Tiddlywinks Nursery Walmersley

A tortoise cared for with toothbrushes and science explored through an ox’s heart: Tiddlywinks Nursery Walmersley has an unusually memorable account of early learning. At its 3 February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that its teaching developed children’s understanding through carefully chosen practical experiences. The appeal is concrete: children had things to investigate, questions to ask and responsibilities to take seriously.

Based at Talbot Grove in Bury, BL9 6PH, the nursery accepts children aged 4 to 60 months and has 127 places in total. It opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, across the year, closing on bank holidays. Alongside early years care, the Walmersley setting runs provision for school-age children attending Chesham Primary School.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care. In parent language, that brings learning and everyday care together: conversation, play and increasing independence belong within the same day.

In February 2023, children explored science by examining an ox’s heart with staff, learning vocabulary connected to the investigation. This gave new words a practical context. Rather than treating language as a separate exercise, adults connected it to something children could examine and discuss.

Making play dough was another substantial part of the February 2023 day. Children followed instructions using pictures and writing each morning, with two-year-olds taking part too. The activity combined making something useful with following a sequence. It also gave younger children a role in preparing their own play materials.

Independence developed through ordinary routines in February 2023. Babies received help with holding a spoon; older children used tongs to portion out lunch for themselves and others. The progression matters because it connects the youngest children’s early attempts with more demanding tasks later. Mealtimes became opportunities to practise skills as well as eat.

Stories and songs supported conversation in February 2023, while adults responded to babies’ sounds and welcomed children’s questions. That gave communication several routes into the day, from a baby’s babbling to an older child discussing an unfamiliar scientific idea.

Outdoor and Community Life

Animal care brought another practical dimension in February 2023. Children watched Giant African Snails, learnt about eggs through caring for a chicken, and helped look after Toto, the nursery tortoise. Two-year-olds cleaned Toto’s shell with small toothbrushes as part of an agreed care plan. These were tasks with a purpose: observing living things and taking responsibility for their needs.

Beyond the nursery, February 2023 activities included repeated litter-picking outings and frequent visits to an elderly care home for songs and stories. The two experiences offered different kinds of participation. One involved looking after the local environment; the other brought children into contact with older residents through shared activities.

Relationships and Communication

In February 2023, staff comforted new babies by holding and gently rocking them, with quiet humming helping them settle with their key carer. The detail is useful for parents considering a baby’s first separation: the care described was personal and responsive, centred on an adult’s attention.

Communication with families also formed part of the February 2023 practice. Staff kept in regular contact with parents and helped them support learning at home. For families, that makes the relationship with practitioners relevant beyond the hours a child spends at nursery: conversations can connect what happens there with what a child is doing at home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding and strong support for children with SEND, including coordinated work with other professionals and carefully planned moves to primary school. These are dated judgements, with the practical detail giving parents more to consider than the overall grade alone.

In February 2023, staff assessed children’s learning and used that understanding to decide what to introduce next. When a child needed additional help, staff responded promptly and the special educational needs coordinator worked alongside practitioners and other professionals. Children also had opportunities to discuss feelings and needs, connecting emotional expression with their relationships with others.

Food received individual attention in February 2023: the catering manager discussed dietary needs and food experiences with new families, and babies had weaning plans tailored to them. This makes food care relevant to families whose child is starting solids or has dietary requirements.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery’s opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays, with year-round operation and bank holiday closures. Its address is Talbot Grove, Bury, BL9 6PH. The current age range runs from 4 to 60 months.

For families with an older child at Chesham Primary School, the separate Walmersley out-of-school provision offers a breakfast club from 7.30am and an after-school session from 3.30pm to 6pm. Staff accompany children between school and the nursery, so this provision may be relevant to a household arranging care for siblings at different stages.

The school-age children return to the Toosc room within the nursery. Holiday provision also runs during half-term breaks for children attending any school. These arrangements belong to the school-age service and should be considered separately from a younger child’s nursery day.

Funding and Paid Extras

In February 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation.

• Baby settling. February 2023 practice centred on comforting babies through close contact with their key carer. During a visit, ask how settling would be organised around your baby’s feeding and sleep routines.
• Practical learning. Science investigations and animal care were memorable parts of the February 2023 experience. A useful visit question is how those experiences now develop as children grow older.
• Sibling arrangements. The Walmersley school-age service supports children attending Chesham Primary School. Families considering both services should discuss how their nursery and school-age bookings would work together.

Tiddlywinks Nursery Walmersley suits families who value practical investigation, growing independence and care that takes a child’s individual needs seriously. Its February 2023 examples give that appeal substance: making play dough, caring for Toto and learning to serve lunch describe children taking an active part in their day.

For households with a child at Chesham Primary School, the breakfast and after-school provision adds another practical reason to consider this setting. The strongest educational and care judgements remain those of February 2023; a visit can turn that detailed picture into a decision about your own child.