Ryders Green Primary School Nursery Review

Counting through songs, taking stories home and exploring outdoors give Ryders Green’s nursery its character. This is the school’s own nursery provision on Claypit Lane in West Bromwich, with learning organised within its early years foundation stage (EYFS).

Ofsted graded early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 18 and 19 July 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery’s emphasis is clear: spoken language, early reading and practical number work sit alongside learning to share and take turns.

Adult teaching, small-group activities and time for children to explore shape the day. In parent terms, the EYFS approach here combines guided learning with activities that children choose themselves. Children’s interests and first-hand experiences help shape the curriculum, giving their own questions a place alongside planned teaching.

Letters and Sounds develops speaking and listening in Nursery, with preparation for Phase 1 of Read Write Inc in the summer term. Books also travel home. Families are encouraged to talk about the illustrations and predict the story together, making shared reading a conversation rather than simply a task to complete.

Number learning uses rhymes, games, songs and objects children can handle. Work on small hand movements accompanies counting, including matching a count to individual objects. The indoor classroom and outdoor classroom receive equal weight in planning, so exploration is part of learning in both spaces. In July 2023, early years activities had a clear emphasis on reading and number, while nursery routines taught children how to wait their turn and use equipment together.

Attentive adult support was a strength of early years in July 2023. The nursery staffing structure includes a teacher with science leadership responsibilities, a teaching assistant and an EYFS teaching assistant apprentice. Tapestry shares some observations with families, while Nursery Parent Overviews explain learning at the start of each half term. These give parents concrete starting points for conversations about their child’s day.

The school’s Cool Milk scheme provides milk, generally during the morning; children under five qualify for free school milk. Across the school, meals are supplied by ABM Catering’s Grow service, with meal-booking and allergy guidance provided through ParentPay.

SEND planning. The July 2023 inspection identified school-wide weaknesses in the precision of SEND targets, the clarity of individual support and governors’ understanding of SEND provision. Families should pay attention to how their child’s support and progress will be defined. The school’s SEND arrangements include discussing needs with parents before or at admission, SENDCO oversight of interventions and consultation with specialist agencies where appropriate.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. The school directs admissions enquiries to Sandwell Council and provides an online application route. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two separate decisions.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0121 553 0658 or email contactus@rydersgreen.sandwell.sch.uk. The school’s Calendars page links to Sandwell term dates and school training days, helping families plan around closures.

Wraparound age limit. Breakfast Club and Twilight Club accept children aged 4–11. That eligibility matters for families considering care around nursery attendance: the school’s wraparound provision is not an option for a three-year-old. A school uniform exchange also allows families to request reused clothing through the office.