Sandhills Day Nursery, Alvechurch
Good★ 4.6 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Birmingham for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023. Open since 2005, with 75 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 Worcestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Worcestershire 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
B48 7RRWhat 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, 7 September 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy at the setting. They enjoy sensory activities, such as sand and water play. For example, they smile and laugh as they fill and empty the differentsized containers. Children also enjoy getting creative as they make their own pictures, using a range of media. Leaders tailor settling-in sessions to meet the needs of each child. This helps children to build lasting bonds with their key person. Children actively seek out staff as needed. Staff show lots of care and attention to babies when they become upset. This works well and helps the babies to settle quickly. Although children generally behave well, they are not always supported by staff to learn what is expected of them.
Children make good progress in their learning from their starting points. Children share that they like to use their imaginations as they play 'hairdressers'. Children enjoy physical exercise outdoors. They have fun making a range of different movements, such as climbing and running. Staff plan a range of activities for all children across the setting, covering all areas of learning. Most children show high levels of engagement as they play. Staff gather and share key information with other settings that children attend. This helps to ensure that children receive the consistency they require in their care and/or learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- focus the use of supervisions and the monitoring of staff practice on raising the quality of teaching that children receive to the highest possible level n support children to regulate their own emotions and learn about what is expected of them n utilise what you know about the children, to help plan meaningful and stimulating activities that support the children to maintain high levels of engagement.
- 7 September 2023Good
- 16 August 2019Outstanding
- 13 May 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sandhills Day Nursery, Alvechurch
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.