Tiny Tots Private Day Nursery

Counting through messy rhyme games, learning to pour a drink and practising how to take turns: ordinary childhood activities give Tiny Tots its character. This Great Lever nursery has capacity for 40 children, accepting children from birth to five. Its appeal rests on personal relationships and everyday learning.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 27 June 2025 and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. There were also clear improvement priorities: younger children needed more time to answer questions, while quieter children sometimes received less attention during shared activities. Those details matter more to a choosing parent than the grade alone.

Half-day attendance and full-time weeks are offered, giving families different ways to use the nursery.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In practice, this means that communication, physical skills and relationships sit alongside early mathematical understanding, with learning woven into play and everyday routines.

In June 2025, younger children explored counting by splatting foam cakes during rhymes. Older children used turn-taking games to recognise how many objects were in a small collection without counting each one. These were different routes into the same mathematical idea, matched to children's stage of development rather than a single task for everyone.

Movement also took different forms. At that visit, babies had opportunities to crawl and work on walking, while older children practised balancing and climbing. Children could play outdoors daily. The combination gave physical development a place in the day alongside conversation and number play.

Language work included action rhymes for babies and group conversations in which older children explained their ideas. In June 2025, however, adults did not consistently pause long enough after asking younger children a question. The practical issue is the child's opportunity to respond: an adult-led conversation needs space for the child to contribute, too.

The current learning approach builds on individual interests and strengths, with social development, creative expression and literacy among its emphases. That gives parents a useful point of comparison with the inspection examples: how an individual child's interests become an activity, and how adults help them take the next step.

Relationships were an important part of daily life in June 2025. Key persons understood children's starting points and used that knowledge when planning activities. Most children settled readily, and adults gave sensitive help to those who needed more support. Familiar routines helped children anticipate what would happen next, including washing their hands before lunch.

At its June 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff applied advice from professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, helping them work towards developmental milestones and using additional funding appropriately. A Special Educational Needs Coordinator role is also part of the current team structure, giving families a specific role through which to discuss support.

Independence was practised through small, practical tasks. In June 2025, children served themselves fruit and poured drinks, while younger children tried cutting their food with help where needed. Staff also supported children who struggled to manage their feelings and reinforced sharing and turn-taking.

Communication extended beyond the nursery day. At that visit, parents received updates about care and learning, together with ideas for supporting emerging skills at home. Staff had training and supervision tailored to the children they cared for. The current team includes a nursery chef, and staff hold childcare qualifications, including paediatric first aid.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm. Half-day attendance and full-time weeks are offered. These are different booking patterns within the opening window; the opening hours should not be treated as the length of a half-day booking.

It operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. That closure pattern matters for families arranging work and childcare around the festive period. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email, and a contact form accepts tour requests.

Getting There

The address is Tiny Tots Nursery, Meadow Bank, 361 Green Lane, Great Lever, Bolton, BL3 2LU.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered alongside paid attendance. Childcare vouchers and the tax-free childcare scheme are also accepted as ways to help with costs. Obtain a current written quotation when comparing half-day attendance with a full-time week, and compare the charge structure for the pattern you intend to use.

• Conversation and quieter children. In June 2025, younger children sometimes had too little time to answer, and more confident children could draw adults' attention away from quieter peers. During a visit, explore how staff now give each child opportunities to contribute.
• Notification responsibilities. In June 2025, the provider had failed to notify a significant event, although discussion demonstrated an understanding of its notification duties. This is a management point to weigh alongside the positive safeguarding judgement.
• Half-day planning. Half-day attendance is offered alongside full-time weeks. Which half-day times and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's schedule, and how would meals and consumables be charged or supplied?

Tiny Tots suits families considering either half-day attendance or a full-time week, with a year-round opening pattern and an emphasis on children's individual interests. The June 2025 picture included close relationships, practical independence and learning through everyday activities. Its Good judgement comes with useful cautions: the experience of younger and quieter children deserves particular attention when choosing it.