Yew Tree Primary School Nursery Review

Water experiments, garden growing and a weekly Forest School session give Yew Tree’s nursery a practical character. Children sing, dance and make things, with time both to work alongside adults and to explore independently. The provision belongs to Yew Tree Primary School on Birchfield Way in Walsall and forms part of its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) team.

Ofsted’s report dated 27 January 2026 judged early years to meet the Expected standard, with effective nursery provision giving children a positive start. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Small-group maths and writing activities sit alongside a daily Super Sounds session, which develops listening and early reading skills. The EYFS curriculum brings together language, physical skills, relationships, literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. In parent terms, learning includes how children communicate and play together as well as what they can count or mark on paper.

Topics give those skills a concrete purpose. Once Upon a Time involves retelling and acting out familiar tales, including Goldilocks and The Three Little Pigs. Splash! brings floating, sinking, freezing and melting into water play; children also make ice lollies and investigate capacity. Sunshine and Sunflowers takes learning into the garden area, where children grow vegetables, fruit and flowers. These are activities parents can talk about and extend at home.

Outdoor learning has a regular place in the week. The nursery page schedules PE on Tuesdays and Forest School on Fridays. The grounds include outdoor learning spaces for the youngest children, while Forest School provides exploration in a natural setting. Nursery children come dressed for the conditions and use waterproofs; the school supplies a class set, so buying separate waterproof clothing is optional.

In January 2026, early years children showed resilience in play and learning, and carefully selected activities helped them become more independent. Adult conversations supported language development. Teaching next steps. The same inspection set school-wide priorities to identify learning gaps sooner and provide more opportunities to deepen learning. Those are wider teaching priorities, rather than nursery-specific criticisms.

Settling centres on relationships and learning familiar routines. In January 2026, staff got to know children promptly and children settled quickly. The Me and My Community topic also introduces friendship, kindness and classroom expectations, giving children practical ways to understand their new group.

Tapestry records photographs, observations and examples of children’s work in an online learning journal. Parents can contribute learning from home, while Class Dojo carries nursery information. Together, these give families ways to share what their child is doing beyond the classroom.

Early years staff identify barriers to learning, including special educational needs and disabilities. The Hive supports children with complex needs across EYFS and Key Stage 1 who cannot access a mainstream classroom full time. Children retain their mainstream class places: it is neither a separate class nor a specialist SEND base. Families can discuss concerns with the class teacher and then the Inclusion Leader, and attend SEND Coffee Mornings.

Nursery children have daily free fruit. Milk is free for children under five, with orders handled through Cool Milk. These arrangements support the snack routine within the nursery’s half-day pattern.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Sandwell’s normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Nursery applications go to the school office; Reception admissions follow Sandwell’s arrangements. Keep the two applications separate in your planning.

Children attend for 15 hours each week, across either mornings or afternoons. Morning sessions run from 8.50am to 11.40am, with flexible drop-off from 8.40am; afternoons run from 12.20pm to 3.20pm. This is a session pattern to fit around other childcare arrangements.

Return the nursery application form to the school office according to the nursery admissions criteria. Enquiries can go to enquiries@yewtree.sandwell.sch.uk or 01922 626926. Nursery PE requires no separate kit. For Forest School, label outdoor clothes and footwear and choose items that can get muddy. Collection must be by someone aged at least 18.