Swans Care and Education

An indoor slide for babies, papier mâché planets for older children and a festival dragon named Pong Lee give Swans Care and Education a recognisable character in its August 2023 snapshot. Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 9 August 2023, with Outstanding personal development. The strongest thread was children's growing independence, from making choices about personal care to learning how to express emotions.

Swans Care and Education is at 42 Whittaker Lane, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1FX, with capacity for 52 children aged 3 to 59 months. The inspection's main improvement point concerned the consistency of support for speaking skills.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, its August 2023 examples included stories, physical play and practical exploration of mathematical ideas. Children compared pasta lengths while making play dough models, giving an everyday activity a clear learning purpose.

In August 2023, babies used an indoor slide independently, while stretch and grow sessions involved obstacle courses that exercised children's muscles. Sand play in the under-twos room became pretend drink-serving; older children made papier mâché planets, extending their earlier exploration of the solar system. These were activities with something concrete to practise, rather than simply things to occupy the day.

Books and materials for making marks were accessible in August 2023, allowing children to choose stories and experiment with early writing. Cultural learning included Mandarin videos shared by parents and the creation of Pong Lee, a Chinese festival dragon. Family contributions gave children a direct connection to different spoken languages.

The speaking curriculum needed greater consistency in August 2023. Staff sometimes talked for too long, leaving children insufficient time to absorb the words and prepare an answer. That is a useful distinction: plentiful conversation does not automatically give a child enough space to speak.

At the August 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, strong relationships between staff and children, and that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities felt secure and valued. Personal care involved consulting children, giving even babies a say in what happened to them.

In August 2023, The Colour Monster was used to help children explore feelings through stories and play. The water super stars initiative encouraged drinking water, making a healthy habit something children could take part in themselves. Staff also helped children work through difficult emotions and consider how to respond respectfully to others.

Predictable routines supported behaviour in August 2023: children understood what was happening and what would follow. Staff received safeguarding training and kept resources needing adult supervision beyond children's independent reach.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year, closing on bank holidays. Its address is 42 Whittaker Lane, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1FX.

In August 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated account of its funding offer.

• Time to respond. The August 2023 improvement point concerned staff leaving children enough space to answer. During a visit, look at how adults balance questions, commentary and listening.
• Everyday independence. In August 2023, children were consulted before personal care. Ask how this approach works now for a baby or child who communicates without speech.
• Attendance and costs. How would your preferred booking pattern work, and what would a current written quotation cover for funded hours, additional care, meals and consumables?

Swans merits consideration by families who value children's independence, imaginative practical activities and thoughtful work on feelings. Its August 2023 account contains memorable examples, alongside a specific weakness in the delivery of speaking activities. The weekday opening window gives families a useful starting point for weighing its practical fit.