Nursery Rhymes Nursery, Bollington

Story-writing, treasure maps and vegetable planting give Nursery Rhymes Nursery, Bollington a recognisable character in its July 2022 account of daily life. The setting occupies Middlewood House on Grimshaw Lane, with Middlewood Way close by. Its current age range is six to 60 months, and it has capacity for 34 children.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including work with outside professionals. There were also clear improvements to make: better-matched learning for babies, stronger support for speaking and a broader understanding of lives beyond children's own experiences.

Morning, afternoon and full-day bookings give families different ways to organise attendance. The practical distinction is between private fees and funded hours, which have different arrangements for additional services.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play used to build skills and understanding. In July 2022, that took different forms across the ages: babies experimented with paint and instruments, toddlers investigated flowers and discussed growing vegetables, and preschool children created stories and maps for outdoor treasure searches. Those examples connect expression, language and exploration to things children can handle and do.

Books had an active place in that July 2022 day. Staff brought stories to life through expressive reading, while children discussed characters and anticipated what might happen next. This gave conversation a purpose beyond answering an adult's question. Children could contribute their own ideas.

The same dated account also exposes the limits of the learning. Some activities for babies used concepts and vocabulary beyond their understanding because practitioners were not consistently clear about the intended learning. Conversations with older children did not always develop speaking as far as they could, and vocabulary was sometimes inaccurate. For families, the important distinction is between offering an activity and choosing language that helps a child understand it.

Outdoor and Community Life

Middlewood Way is a local asset for the Bollington setting, giving community exploration a named connection to its surroundings. It is more useful detail than a general promise of trips.

In July 2022, outdoor apparatus supported balancing, climbing and jumping, alongside bug searches and group games. A farm visit also broadened children's experiences. The improvement request about understanding differences and similarities matters here: an outing can introduce something unfamiliar, but the conversation around it helps children make sense of that experience.

In July 2022, everyday care included children practising small acts of independence: putting on shoes, serving themselves drinks and helping put toys away. Discussions about handwashing, drinking water and looking after teeth connected health to familiar routines. These were practical responsibilities children could begin to manage themselves.

Communication with families at that time included regular meetings and sharing information about care and learning. Staff also received supervision, appraisal and training. That creates a concrete picture of how adults exchanged information and reviewed their work, rather than relying on a general description of a caring team.

The July 2022 SEND arrangements involved collaboration with external specialists to address obstacles to learning. For a family whose child needs additional help, the useful detail is that support extended beyond the nursery team. The dated safeguarding account included staff training, referral procedures, recruitment checks, supervision of children and first-aid preparation.

Preparation for the next stage was also part of the July 2022 experience. Children practised independence, took on new challenges and developed familiarity with shared routines. These are useful elements of moving towards school; they do not imply an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Middlewood House, Grimshaw Lane, Bollington, SK10 5JB. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays. Morning sessions run from 7.30am to 12.30pm, while afternoon sessions run from 1pm to 6pm; full-day bookings are also offered.

Attendance requires at least two sessions each week. Fees are calculated across 51 weeks and paid in advance each month, with payment due on the first. The nursery closes for a week during the festive period, which is excluded from charging, and on bank holidays. That minimum attendance rule matters even for a family seeking only occasional childcare.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form by selecting Bollington, or by contacting the Bollington nursery directly.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 30 hours for eligible working parents over 38 weeks, beginning from nine months, alongside 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds and the universal 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds. Additional private sessions are offered too. Funding eligibility and the provider's extra services remain separate questions.

Private fees include drinks, snacks and meals made by the nursery cook on the premises; funded hours instead have a separate consumables and services charge covering food and items such as nappy care and sun cream. That charge is optional: parents can supply their own consumables and pay separately for additional services. Families should obtain a written quotation setting out their chosen sessions, funding and extras.

• Learning for the youngest children. The July 2022 improvement priorities included matching baby activities to intended learning. During a visit, ask how practitioners now choose suitable activities and language for babies.
• Speaking and wider experiences. The July 2022 priorities also covered vocabulary and understanding lives beyond children's own experience. Ask for a recent example of how staff extend a child's conversation and introduce unfamiliar experiences.
• Two-session minimum and funded extras. Attendance starts at two sessions weekly, and the optional funded-hours package sits separately from entitlement. A written quotation should distinguish the selected attendance pattern, consumables and additional services.

Nursery Rhymes Nursery, Bollington suits families considering morning sessions, afternoon sessions or full-day attendance, provided the two-session weekly minimum works for them. Middlewood Way gives the setting a useful local connection, while the July 2022 examples of stories, gardening and outdoor exploration give substance to its play-based day.

The dated Good judgement is balanced by specific teaching priorities, especially for babies and children's speaking. Those are worthwhile subjects for a visit, alongside the practical choice between inclusive private fees and separately charged services during funded hours.