Two of the University of Birmingham’s day nurseries are proud to announce they have been awarded Platinum #JustQuality accreditation.

The Oaks in Selly Oak and The Elms in Edgbaston have undergone a 12-month process to achieve the accreditation, working with Jigsaw Early Years Consultancy.

The #JustQuality award recognises that providing childcare means adding impact across six key areas: reflection, protection, interaction, inspiration, progression and collaboration. The process required both nurseries to evaluate their own practices, building a continuous record of the year. These workbooks are now on display, and allow the nurseries to showcase the varied, creative way they approach caring for every child.

‘We’re so proud to have achieved this award,’ says Rebecca Slater, Nursery Manager of The Oaks. ‘We have an Outstanding Ofsted rating, and this process has helped us to ensure we deserve it – by constantly updating and evolving our practice, and continuously evaluating everything we do.’

The Elms team are equally proud. Nursery Manager Selina Hunt says, ‘It’s been such a valuable journey for us. It’s allowed us to see the areas where we really excel and celebrate those – and be inspired to make every element of the care we offer our families feel just as mindful and focused.’

2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Between March and July, the University teams joined forces to provide childcare for key worker families, based at The Elms Hub.

‘That experience has gone into this process too,’ adds Selina. ‘In a crisis, we were able to draw on the resources of an excellent staff team to turn around a new system in just a couple of weeks. Throughout, we were able to offer continuity and security for our children, when they needed it most. It just wouldn’t have been possible without us having such a clear idea of our goals and what we were trying to achieve as a setting.’

Rebecca agrees. ‘Everyone’s worked so hard this year, so it’s wonderful to have this recognition.’

Quality childcare for all

Alongside sister nursery The Maples, The Elms and The Oaks continue to offer high-quality childcare with additional hygiene and safety protocols. Full-time and part-time places are available now for staff, students and everyone in the local community.

Explore the nurseries