Tiddlywinks Nursery Higher Blackley

A story about a rainbow fish became a fish-market outing and a hands-on exploration of rainbow trout in June 2023. That example captures the practical learning recorded at Tiddlywinks Nursery Higher Blackley, where books, movement and everyday independence connected children's interests with real experiences.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding on 14 June 2023. A regulatory visit in April 2026 subsequently resulted in safeguarding-related compliance actions. Those actions need separate attention before a family joins.

Based at 160 Victoria Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, M9 0RN, the nursery has 72 places in total and accepts children aged 4 to 60 months. It opens throughout the year, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. For parents, this means that practising communication, movement and everyday skills belongs alongside play, rather than learning being confined to a formal activity.

In June 2023, staff gave children time to rehearse listening and sharing, adapting their teaching to different needs. A book also provided the starting point for the rainbow trout exploration: children handled and examined fish after the market outing, then discussed anatomy, including gills and the spine. The interest began with a story and developed into practical investigation.

Movement had its own place in the June 2023 day. Wake-up and shake-up sessions encouraged babies and older children to get moving; toddlers practised jumping, while preschool children danced to Jimba Papaluschka using stretches and movements timed to the music. Children also felt their heartbeats after exercise and learnt to ease their pace. These were concrete opportunities to connect physical activity with awareness of their bodies.

Everyday Independence

Small care routines were used as learning opportunities in June 2023. Toddlers and preschool children applied sun cream under close supervision. Older babies poured milk, handled cutlery and climbed steps to the changing unit, giving them an active part in tasks adults might otherwise complete for them.

Those steps to the changing unit are a useful physical detail: the arrangement allowed babies to participate in a routine, rather than simply be lifted through it. Staff also worked with parents on independence at home, connecting nursery practice with familiar family routines.

In June 2023, the special educational needs coordinator arranged referrals to external agencies and worked with practitioners on individual plans for children with SEND. This describes a specific support mechanism: identifying a need led to planned provision and contact with additional services.

Emotional support in June 2023 included books about feelings and emotion cards, alongside adults responding sympathetically when children struggled to manage their emotions. These resources gave practitioners something concrete to use when helping a child recognise and express a feeling.

The June 2023 community links included the Sure Start Children's Centre, and parents were encouraged to access The Incredible Years Programme, a course supporting parenting skills. This extended the nursery's work beyond children's activities to support for families themselves.

Food conversations were individual in June 2023: the catering manager spoke with parents about dietary requirements and stages of weaning, and shared recipes and tasting opportunities at parents' evenings. This gave families practical ways to connect meals at nursery with food at home.

Following its visit on 22 April 2026, Ofsted issued actions covering confidential staff supervision, up-to-date checks on continuing staff suitability, and the knowledge and capability of people leading safeguarding concerns, with a deadline of 6 May 2026. The compliance document dated 23 April 2026 stated that monitoring would follow and that the provider remained registered; it does not establish completion of those actions.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Year-round operation, with bank-holiday closures, makes the calendar relevant to families whose childcare needs extend beyond school terms.

In June 2023, the nursery's session window also ran from 7.30am to 6pm. That is a dated description of attendance at that time, separate from the current opening hours.

Funding and Joining

In June 2023, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. That establishes participation at that date, rather than a current entitlement or charging arrangement.

Enquiries can be submitted through the contact form by selecting Higher Blackley Nursery. Families can therefore direct their message to this branch rather than another Tiddlywinks location.

• April 2026 safeguarding actions. The actions due by 6 May 2026 concerned staff supervision, continuing suitability and safeguarding leadership. Ask for the subsequent outcome and an explanation of the procedures now operating before making a joining decision.
• Care for younger babies. Children are accepted from 4 months, while the June 2023 examples describe older babies participating in care routines. On a visit, how are sleep, feeding and settling organised for a baby starting at the youngest accepted age?

Higher Blackley's June 2023 account will appeal to families who value practical exploration, physical activity and children gradually taking responsibility for everyday tasks. The fish investigation and supervised care routines give that judgement substance.

Its weekday opening window and year-round calendar also suit families needing childcare beyond term time. However, the April 2026 safeguarding actions are material to the choice: families need a clear account of what followed those actions.