Channings Childcare Werneth

A long deck links the downstairs baby and toddler rooms at Westlands Cottage, while preschool children occupy the floor above, overlooking the garden. That layout gives Channings Childcare Werneth a recognisable character: younger children share an outdoor space, with a separate upstairs base for the older age group. The building once served a local estate as accommodation for servants and stables.

The nursery has 53 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall. The assessment also identified weaknesses in planning individual learning and checking whether staff training translated into better teaching. Those qualifications matter alongside the grade.

Rooms and Ages

Babies and toddlers have their rooms downstairs, connected by the outdoor deck; preschool children have views across their garden from upstairs. For parents comparing environments, the useful distinction is the arrangement by stage and floor, rather than the whole nursery's capacity. The 53 places cover the setting as a whole, rather than the size of any individual room.

Westlands Cottage's history gives the building its identity, but the practical feature is the connection between the younger children's rooms and their shared outside space. Preschool has a different base within the same building. Families considering a baby place therefore have a different room arrangement to weigh from those choosing preschool care.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, this brings learning and everyday care together: communication, play and growing independence belong within the nursery day, rather than being separate from it.

In September 2023, children practised useful everyday skills. Older children handled their drinking water and cutlery themselves, while younger children worked on handwashing and caring for their own noses. These are small tasks with a clear purpose: children gain practice in doing things for themselves.

Language also ran through play in September 2023. Staff introduced descriptive and action words during sand activities, connecting vocabulary to what children were handling and doing. Younger children sang familiar songs, while older children gathered for stories. The emphasis was on hearing, using and enjoying language through ordinary experiences.

The limitation was individual planning. In September 2023, practitioners did not consistently understand what particular activities were intended to teach, and some children lost interest. Children's next learning steps needed to shape those experiences more precisely. An appealing activity still needs a clear purpose for the child taking part.

Outdoor and Community Life

The shared deck is the clearest current outdoor feature for babies and toddlers. Religious and cultural celebrations also form part of life at Werneth, where children and staff come from different backgrounds.

There are concrete examples from 2019. In May that year, the Mayor of Oldham visited, with children and staff wearing pyjamas to raise money for the Mayor's charities. A Prince and Princess party marked preschool departures in July 2019, combining costumes, dancing and games. These were specific past occasions, rather than a promise of today's events calendar.

In September 2023, relationships with a key person helped children settle and feel comfortable with staff. Parents received developmental updates and ideas for supporting learning at home. That connection matters because communication covered both what children were doing at nursery and what families could build on beyond it.

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and assessed children with special educational needs and/or disabilities as making good progress, supported by staff working with outside professionals. These are dated judgements, rather than assurances about every child's experience today.

Food supported everyday conversations about health in September 2023: children chose fruit at snack time and discussed why it was good for their bodies. Choice gave children an active part in that discussion.

The team numbered 13 childcare staff in September 2023, with 11 holding level 3 qualifications. However, training was not consistently remembered or evaluated for its effect on practice, contributing to uneven teaching. The improvement required was therefore about how learning reached the children, as well as staff attending courses.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.15am to 6pm on weekdays. The nursery operates across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. This gives parents an opening window against which to compare their working hours and holiday arrangements.

Getting There

The address is Springbank Street, Werneth, Oldham, OL8 4LH, at Westlands Cottage. Its cul-de-sac position is on high ground overlooking the Manchester to Oldham route, with access to the M60 nearby. Enquiries can be made directly by telephone or email.

Funding and Paid Extras

In September 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That establishes its participation at that time; families choosing care now should use the funding question below when assessing their own arrangements.

• Individual learning. September 2023 brought a clear requirement to connect activities more closely to each child's next steps. At a visit, ask how practitioners choose an activity for your child and recognise what they have learnt from it.
• Training in practice. In September 2023, staff training did not consistently translate into teaching. Ask for an example of a recent change to practice and how its effect on children has been assessed.
• The younger children's space. Babies and toddlers share a deck between their downstairs rooms. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how the two age groups use that space during the day.
• Funding and the total bill. Funded early education was part of the offer in September 2023. Ask which current entitlements and attendance patterns apply to your child, and request a written quotation separating childcare, meals and non-food consumables.

Werneth suits families looking for care across the year, with downstairs baby and toddler rooms linked by a shared deck and a separate upstairs preschool base. Its September 2023 assessment combined a Good judgement with clear weaknesses in individual planning and the use of staff training. The strongest decision rests on both: the room arrangement that fits your child and a convincing explanation of how those teaching issues have been addressed.