Junipers Pre-school
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Smethwick for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2025. Open since 2010, with 40 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Sandwell
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Sandwell from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
B67 7NLWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 8 July 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy and are keen to come into the pre-school on arrival. They form close bonds with staff who know them well. Children go to them for cuddles and reassurance, which they receive from staff who are warm and nurturing towards them. This helps children to feel safe and secure in their care. Staff arrange the environment purposefully for children to gain the most access to the play resources. Children confidently access toys and resources for themselves. For example, younger children enjoy the imaginative play area and re-enact what they know from home. They organise roles between themselves to care for the baby doll, set out the tablecloth and collect plates and cutlery. The pre-school is inclusive, and staff ensure that activities, some routines and their interactions are adapted to enable all children to take part in valuable learning experiences.
Children generally show positive behaviours. Staff use gentle guidance to reinforce the use of good manners and being kind to their friends. Children respond well to staff. They are kind and help each other. For example, older children support others to put away their pictures into their bags. Children gain the skills and understanding to prepare them for their next stage of learning and, for some, the eventual move on to school.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the arrangements for some parts of the routine to enable children to more fully engage in these purposeful experiences n build further on the methods of support that are provided to staff to ensure their knowledge and understanding remain consistently current.
- 8 July 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 18 May 2023Good
- 9 October 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Junipers Pre-school
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.