Kids Planet Springhead

A purpose-built sensory room and regular outings into Springhead give Kids Planet Springhead two useful points of difference: somewhere to slow down, and opportunities to explore beyond the nursery. Gentle lighting, tactile materials and calming sounds shape the sensory space, while the surrounding village brings the park, shops and library into the nursery’s local world. These are concrete features for families who value both quieter play and community connections.

On Cooper Street in Oldham, the nursery has 55 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, with two improvements required: activities needed to match children’s development more closely, and handwashing after nose wiping needed greater consistency. That gives parents a clear basis for weighing the offer.

Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings sit alongside an opening week running from Monday to Friday. The shorter sessions matter as much as the full day: this is an option for families building a week around either pattern.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care here; in everyday terms, play and interaction support children as they build language, physical skills and relationships. The practical question is how well an activity suits the child taking part.

In September 2022, that match was uneven. Some younger children encountered vocabulary and number work beyond their development, while some older children lost interest because letter-and-sound activities were too easy. The issue was the level of the teaching, rather than simply whether an activity took place. Families should give that distinction weight when considering school preparation.

The current sensory room provides a different kind of experience. Its gentle lighting, soft surfaces and soothing sounds support sensory exploration, with uses including individual support and quieter periods. Babies and children with additional needs are a particular part of its intended audience. A separate space for a change of pace gives the nursery another way to respond to children who need less stimulation.

Outdoor and Community Life

Secure outdoor areas form part of the purpose-built site, and regular local outings extend children’s experiences beyond it. The site is also near the local park, shops and library. Their value is straightforward: children encounter places and activities beyond the nursery’s own play spaces.

In September 2022, outdoor play included sand and water exploration for babies, planting herbs and vegetables for toddlers, and an obstacle course for preschool children. These experiences combined sensory play with movement and conversation. The older children practised balance, while toddlers talked about what they were growing.

Community participation also has a practical expression in the community basket, which collects donations for local food banks. It gives helping others a visible action children can recognise. The parent refreshment station adds a separate family-facing feature, creating space for informal conversations over a drink or snack.

Relationships and Communication

Famly, the parent app used here, provides updates during the day. It is part of Kids Planet’s group-wide offering, alongside sports activities and the fee inclusions described below. For parents, the useful feature is access to information about their child while care is taking place.

In September 2022, settling involved staff learning about children and their families, and communication included meetings and open days. For children learning English alongside another language, staff used pictures and signs; recordings in families’ home languages also helped communication. These are specific ways of making an exchange more accessible, rather than relying entirely on spoken English.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and assessed SEND support positively, describing prompt work with outside agencies, targeted help and parental involvement, with children making good progress. Those are dated judgements, and the practical mechanisms beneath them matter: identifying a need, seeking specialist involvement and including parents in the response.

The current sensory room offers a physical resource for individual support and emotional regulation. In September 2022, children also used a zen den to discuss feelings with staff. The two descriptions belong to different dates; both put quieter experiences into the account of care.

Hygiene was a weakness in September 2022. Sometimes children were not encouraged to wash their hands after blowing their noses, and staff occasionally omitted handwashing after wiping a child’s nose. This was an improvement point for everyday care routines, not something the overall grade should obscure.

Fresh meals and snacks are provided, with dietary needs accommodated. The group-wide private-fee package used here includes food alongside nappies, formula, wipes and sun cream; funded attendance has a separate charge structure.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Cooper Street, Springhead, Oldham OL4 4QS. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, across 52 weeks, with bank holidays closed.

A Full Day runs from 7.30am to 5.45pm. Morning bookings run from 7.30am to 12.30pm, and Afternoon bookings from 12.45pm to 5.45pm. The rate card also has a Full Time pattern using the full-day window, morning and afternoon top-up bookings, and an ad hoc hourly option. These patterns allow parents to compare a whole day with a shorter morning or afternoon arrangement.

Telephone enquiries go to 0161 6206267, and email enquiries to springhead@kidsplanetdaynurseries.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and private paid attendance are both offered. Meals, snacks, wipes, nappies, formula and sun cream are included in the private-fee package. On days when early years funding is applied, meals, consumables and activities carry separate charges, with the charge band depending on the funded hours used that day.

This distinction matters when comparing the cost of a private booking with funded attendance. The same included items do not carry the same charging position across both arrangements. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation.

• Activity level. In September 2022, some activities were too demanding for younger children and too easy for older ones. During a tour, ask how practitioners adjust an activity for children at different stages.
• Handwashing routines. September 2022 findings included missed handwashing after nose wiping by both children and staff. Ask how this routine is reinforced now.
• Funded-day extras. Meals, consumables and activities are charged separately on days using early years funding. Have the written quotation distinguish these charges from additional private hours.
• A quieter space. The sensory room supports babies and children with additional needs through low lighting, tactile materials and calming sounds. A useful visit question is how its individual-support use would fit your child’s day.

Kids Planet Springhead suits families seeking either full-day attendance or shorter morning and afternoon sessions, with outdoor play and local outings alongside a quieter sensory space. Famly updates and private-fee inclusions add practical convenience.

The September 2022 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, but the activity-level and hygiene findings deserve attention. For parents, the strongest decision combines the physical offer with a clear understanding of current teaching routines and the separate extras attached to funded days.