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Choosing a nursery can feel overwhelming. You are trusting other adults with the most important person in your world — and that matters. When you walk into a nursery for the first time, your eyes are naturally drawn to the new climbing frame, the interactive screens, or the freshly painted walls. “Shiny” can feel reassuring. It looks organised. It looks impressive. But here is something many parents don’t realise: Inspectors are far less interested in how new equipment looks — and far more interested in how it is used. When an inspector walks into a nursery, they are quietly watching for the "invisible" indicators of quality: the everyday moments that show whether children feel safe, confident, and genuinely supported to learn. If you are visiting nurseries in Birmingham, here is what is really worth noticing.

We know the feeling. You pick your little one up from nursery. They have a huge grin on their face, perhaps a little smudge of paint on their nose, and maybe even some mud on their knees. You ask, "What did you do today?" And they happily reply, "I played!" It is easy to wonder if "playing" is enough. In a world where we worry about school readiness and milestones, does building a tower or digging in the sand really count as learning? At Greencoat Nursery in Sparkhill, we want to let you in on a secret: Play is the most serious work your child will ever do.  Here is what is actually happening while your child is "just playing."

Applications for September 2026 Reception places are open. Living in Birmingham or Sandwell? Find out how to apply, the deadlines, and how Green Coat Nursery can help.