Albert Pritchard Infant School Nursery Review

Stories, rhymes and physical learning give Albert Pritchard’s nursery two clear strands: movement and early language. This is the infant school’s own nursery on Crew Road in Wednesbury, with entry from the term following a child’s third birthday, subject to space. Its morning provision amounts to 15 hours a week.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 12 and 13 July 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school inspection, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The detail behind it matters: activities were planned around children’s interests and needs, with speaking and listening given substantial attention.

Registration begins at 8.30am, and the morning ends at 11.30am. Within that session, children undertake activities independently and alongside adults, sometimes individually and sometimes in small groups. Teachers organise learning in a sequence while taking account of what interests the children. There is room for both adult guidance and independent activity.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives the curriculum its structure. In parent terms, the initial emphasis is on communicating, developing physical skills and learning about themselves and other people. Maths, literacy, exploring the world and creative expression sit alongside those foundations. Complete PE supports physical learning, while JIGSAW supplies the programme for personal and emotional development.

RWI introduces nursery children to stories, rhymes and distinguishing sounds. Letter sounds follow in the summer term, using pictograms to help children recognise them. Children also choose a library book to enjoy with their family, giving parents a concrete way to join in at home.

In July 2023, adults regularly demonstrated language for children to learn from, helping their communication develop. The early years learning environment supported the breadth of the curriculum. Outdoors, balance bikes and ride-on equipment helped children strengthen their bodies through movement. Physical development has practical equipment behind it.

Individual needs are part of the early years planning: staff consider children’s interests and needs when organising activities, and teachers monitor progress through observation during play and learning. That makes everyday activity part of how adults decide what children should work on next.

The school’s inclusion provision works with Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, among other agencies. Parents can make referrals to these therapy services themselves. For a family concerned about communication or physical development, this provides a specific route towards specialist advice. Schoolcomms supports contact with families through emailed letters and mobile messages, while Studybugs is the school’s system for reporting illness-related absence.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process; a nursery application does not replace it. The school directs parents to the local authority for admission arrangements.

Reception planning. Nursery learning and Reception admission are separate matters. Treat the next application as its own task, even when your child is already attending Albert Pritchard’s nursery.

The nursery application is handled by the school. Collect a form from the office, complete it and return it there; when a space becomes free, the school contacts the family with details and a provisional starting date. If applications exceed places, older children come first, with proximity to school deciding between children who have the same birth date.

The morning session runs from 8.30am to 11.30am, so collection falls before lunchtime. Enquiries can go through the school office or its online contact form. The office handles enquiries between 8.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, which gives parents a contact window extending beyond the nursery morning.