Fairfields Private Day Nursery

A spacious garden and verandas connecting play spaces give Fairfields Private Day Nursery a clear outdoor character. Set within the grounds of Fairfield Hospital in Bury, it combines indoor activity choices with space outside for children to pursue their interests. That connection matters for families who want outdoor play to be part of the nursery day.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated Fairfields Good and found effective safeguarding, good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and good progress across the children. The strongest examples involved practical learning: exploring water, following caterpillars’ development and taking increasing responsibility at mealtimes. There was also a specific weakness in keeping children engaged during group activities.

Fairfields has capacity for 68 children, with an accepted age range of one month to four years and eleven months. Morning, afternoon and all-day bookings provide different ways to use the nursery rather than a single attendance pattern.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: children build communication, physical skills and understanding through play and everyday experiences. At Fairfields, the May 2024 examples show how that can translate into activities with something concrete to investigate, make or discuss.

In May 2024, children explored a butterfly theme through drawing and modelling caterpillars in dough, while butterflies raised from caterpillars were released outside. The connection between making, observing and talking gave the subject more substance than a standalone craft activity.

Number work was similarly practical. During that visit, babies encountered counting through songs and fingers, while older children made a height chart using tape and discussed its numbers. These examples connected early mathematics to actions children could perform themselves. Singing and imaginative play also introduced vocabulary, giving children opportunities to repeat unfamiliar words within an activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

The spacious garden is a substantial part of the current setting, with verandas supporting movement between rooms and outdoor play. Children can choose activities inside and outside. For parents comparing environments, the useful detail is the physical connection between those spaces, rather than simply the existence of a garden.

In May 2024, outdoor exploration included counting soil scoops into a jar and discussing caterpillars eating leaves. Water play offered a different kind of concentration: babies squeezed water from pipettes, while older children transferred it between containers. Those activities brought together hand control, quantities and experimentation. They also gave children reasons to talk about what they were doing.

The limitation concerned group learning. In May 2024, some children became distracted because staff did not consistently put the planned curriculum into practice effectively during shared activities. This matters when weighing the appealing practical examples: engagement was stronger in some parts of the day than others.

Relationships and Communication

In May 2024, the key-person arrangement gave children a familiar adult who understood their learning and knew their families. Parents exchanged handover information with that person, and staff could explain what children were working towards next. For a family, that provides a recognisable point of contact rather than leaving communication spread across whoever happens to be present.

Babies’ communication received close attention during that visit. Staff responded to babbling and non-verbal signals, including those of babies who were less mobile, and used gestures and signs during singing to indicate turns. These are useful details for parents of children who cannot yet explain what they want in words.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In May 2024, assessments helped practitioners spot gaps in children’s development, and the special educational needs coordinator collaborated with staff on support. The practical mechanism was collaboration around a child’s next steps, rather than a general promise of individual attention. Families considering additional support should weigh that alongside the dated inspection judgement.

Everyday independence was also visible in May 2024. Children made play choices, used classroom sinks to wash their hands and helped themselves to lunch. Those routines gave them manageable responsibilities throughout the day. Turn-taking at the water tray offered another opportunity to practise waiting while remaining involved in play.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Fairfield Hospital, Broad Oak Terrace, Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7TD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Fairfields operates for 51 weeks, closing on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas, so those closures need to be part of a family’s childcare planning.

The morning booking runs from 7.30am to 1pm; the afternoon runs from 1pm to 6pm. An all-day booking covers 7.30am to 6pm. The morning therefore includes the earlier start, while the afternoon carries attendance through to closing. These are separate choices with different practical uses for a working day.

Branch enquiries can be made through the nursery’s enquiry form, by telephone on 0161 778 3613 or by email at fairfieldsnursery@creche-n-co.uk. Those routes connect families directly with Fairfields.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded places are offered for children aged two to five. Funding is a useful part of the decision, but the booking pattern and the family’s total charge need to be considered together; a written quotation should relate to the sessions the family intends to use.

• Group activities. In May 2024, keeping children engaged during group learning was the improvement priority. During a visit, ask how shared activities now adapt to children’s interests and attention.
• The session boundary. Morning attendance ends at 1pm and afternoon attendance starts then. Compare those fixed windows with the all-day option and the hours your family needs.
• Funded-place costs. Fairfields offers funded places for ages two to five. Ask for a written quotation explaining how funding fits the chosen sessions and who pays for meals and consumables.

Fairfields suits families looking for morning, afternoon or all-day attendance, with a garden that connects directly to indoor play. Its May 2024 examples give the nursery character: butterfly development, practical number work and water exploration made learning tangible, while the key-person arrangement gave parents a familiar contact.

The balance is clear. There is a Good inspection judgement and substantial practical learning to consider, alongside a specific question about engagement during group activities. Families whose priorities are outdoor access, hands-on experiences and a choice of session lengths have concrete reasons to consider Fairfields.