Medlock Day Nursery

A former temple, naturally lit rooms and an emphasis on communication give Medlock Day Nursery a recognisable character. Based at the former Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Temple on Lee Street in Oldham, it has capacity for 100 children and accepts children from four months to five years. The spacious rooms are a concrete part of its appeal: the setting combines an unusual building with room for children's play.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including early intervention and links with external professionals. The judgement came with clear improvement points. Staff needed a more consistent understanding of planned learning, greater confidence in supporting physical development and better coaching.

Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings give families different attendance options, alongside term-time funded sessions.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play helping children practise communication, movement and social skills. It is the starting point for provision here. Medlock also holds Communication Friendly Setting Status from Elklan, a recognition centred on communication, and belongs to the Early Years Alliance.

In May 2024, language development had received deliberate attention. Work with external professionals helped practitioners introduce unfamiliar words during play. This is a useful emphasis for parents: vocabulary can develop through conversation around an activity rather than only through a separate teaching session.

The age groups had different experiences at that time. Babies explored instruments and watched themselves in mirrors positioned at their height; toddlers played with water and used imaginative outdoor play; preschool children made rockets while investigating space and planets. These examples show learning attached to something children could handle, hear or create. They also give a clearer picture of the day than a list of curriculum headings.

Consistency was the weakness in May 2024. Some practitioners did not understand the learning intended by leaders, so activities sometimes missed the right level of challenge and children lost interest. For families, the important distinction is between an appealing activity and an activity that helps their child take the next step.

Outdoor and Community Life

In May 2024, children went to the cinema, the seaside and a local park, as well as taking walks nearby. These experiences extended their day beyond the nursery premises. Outdoor play was also part of provision, although staff needed more confidence in using the outdoor space to develop larger movements and muscle strength.

Celebrations and cultural traditions were discussed in May 2024, with children encouraged to talk about their backgrounds and what made them individual. That gives everyday conversation a purpose beyond vocabulary: children have opportunities to share something of themselves with others.

In May 2024, practitioners helped children recognise feelings and consider ways of responding to them. Older children talked about comforting friends with a hug. Staff also modelled kindness and discussed friendship, making relationships part of the nursery day rather than leaving children to work everything out alone.

Hygiene routines, risk assessments and conversations about safe play formed part of care in May 2024. Children were encouraged to drink water and spend time outdoors. Staff helped children understand risks during play, connecting adult supervision with children's developing judgement.

Parents received updates about their children's experiences and development in May 2024. Links with outside professionals supported early intervention for children with SEND. Preparation for moving to school included contact with teachers and conversations about new classrooms, helping children put a concrete picture to the change ahead.

Current recruitment arrangements include references and enhanced DBS checks. Medlock also works with Oldham Borough Council's Early Years team on training and legislation. These are practical arrangements for staffing and professional development; they sit alongside the dated inspection assessment.

Meals and drinks are included in ordinary nursery fees, together with nappies and wipes. Funded sessions also include meals and consumables, so those everyday items are covered under both arrangements.

Sessions and Attendance

Regular nursery bookings comprise a full day from 7.30am to 6pm, an AM Session from 7.30am to 1pm and a PM Session from 1pm to 6pm. The morning option covers the earlier part of the day; the afternoon booking starts at lunchtime. This gives parents a meaningful choice beyond a single full-day pattern.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing on public bank holidays and over the Christmas and New Year period.

Funding and Paid Extras

Medlock offers 15 and 30 hour funded places for children from nine months to four years, with funding paid during school terms. Funding can be applied to regular nursery bookings or to the dedicated patterns: 9am to noon across five daily sessions, 11am to 4pm across three daily sessions, or 1pm to 4pm across five daily sessions.

Meals and consumables are included in those funded sessions, and no deposit is required to secure a place. Ordinary nursery fees include food, drinks, nappies and wipes. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees and funding page sets out the attendance and charging structure.

Getting There

The address is Shree Swaminarayan Temple, 270 Lee Street, Oldham, OL8 1BG. Families can make contact through the enquiry form or by telephone on 0161 526 5645; registration paperwork is also offered online.

• Learning matched to your child. In May 2024, some activities failed to hold children's interest because practitioners were unclear about the intended learning. During a visit, ask how staff choose the next challenge for a child and how coaching supports that work.
• Physical development outdoors. In May 2024, practitioners needed greater confidence in developing children's larger movements through outdoor play. Ask to see how the outdoor space is used for this now.
• Settling into a large setting. Medlock has 100 places in total, which is a whole-nursery figure. Use its open-door visiting policy to discuss how introductions and settling would work for your child's age group.

Medlock suits families choosing between full-day care, morning attendance and afternoon sessions, with separate term-time funding patterns adding another option. Included meals, nappies and wipes make the charging structure straightforward to understand.

Its naturally lit rooms and communication emphasis give it character. The Good judgement from May 2024 provides a positive inspection position, while the improvement points make staff coaching, well-matched activities and outdoor physical development the most useful subjects for a visit.