Simon's House Nursery and Pre-School

Baby ballroom, stories brought to life with natural materials, and children helping reshape their play space give Simon's House Nursery and Pre-School a recognisable character. These were features of nursery life in October 2022, rather than a checklist of facilities. The emphasis was on children taking part, communicating and having their ideas taken seriously.

The nursery's overall judgement on 21 October 2022 was Outstanding. Today, the Oldham setting accepts children from 6 to 60 months and has capacity for 100 children. That whole-setting figure is useful context for families, but it is not the size of an individual room or the number attending together.

The current opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with operation across the year and closures for bank holidays and a week at Christmas.

Play drives the current curriculum. Children's interests sit alongside planned topics, while vocabulary and communication receive deliberate attention. The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the play-based approach gives children opportunities to build knowledge and skills through their interests.

In October 2022, younger children had space to move around their room freely. During baby ballroom, babies danced facing one another and holding hands, with adults adding songs and expressive faces. Movement and interaction came together in one activity, giving even the youngest children a way to participate with someone else.

Older children took turns performing during a weekly dance activity in October 2022. Jumping, balancing and clapping were part of the experience, with other children encouraging the person taking a turn. Swimming lessons and music activities led by specialists also formed part of the offer at that time.

The Gruffalo provided another example of learning through participation in October 2022. Staff used objects, different textures and materials from nature alongside the story. This gave children something tangible to explore while listening, rather than relying entirely on spoken words.

Children also influenced the physical layout. In October 2022, their wish to build taller towers prompted a move of the construction area into more space. That is a useful example of listening becoming action: children's ideas changed what they could do in their play.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding, exceptional support for language development and determined work by the special educational needs coordinator to obtain specialist help for children. These are dated judgements, with practical detail beneath them: staff allowed time for children to answer, used signing to support communication and shared learning targets with parents.

In October 2022, assessment informed individual interventions for speech and language. Parents received targets they could use at home, making the connection between nursery learning and family life concrete. Staff also drew on children's interests outside the setting when planning experiences.

A family festival held before the October 2022 visit brought parents together with health visitors and early-years professionals. It offered a direct opportunity to speak with people involved in children's development. This was a specific event, rather than a promise of a recurring calendar.

Food had a social dimension in October 2022. A caterer supplied meals, and children ate with classical music playing in the background.

The nursery's address is 896 Ashton Road, Oldham, OL8 3HT. Enquiries can be made through its contact route, which provides telephone and email contact details.

Opening hours run from 7.30am until 6pm on weekdays. The nursery operates throughout the year, closing on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas. Families arranging regular childcare therefore need an alternative for those closures.

In October 2022, funded education was provided for children aged two, three and four. That describes the position at the inspection date and should be read separately from the current opening arrangements.

• Time since the judgement. The Outstanding judgement dates to October 2022. On a visit, ask how the rooms, learning activities, attendance options and funded-place terms now work for your child's age.
• Steps between spaces. In October 2022, children used stairs and steps within the building, including on the route outdoors. The building's layout matters when weighing how comfortably your child will move between activities.
• Postcode for travel. The nursery's contact address uses OL8 2TD, while its official address is OL8 3HT, both at 896 Ashton Road. Use the street address when planning your journey.

Simon's House suits families seeking play-based early education with an explicit emphasis on vocabulary, communication and children's interests. Its weekday opening window also suits parents coordinating care around a working day.

The October 2022 picture has memorable substance: babies dancing together, stories supported by tactile materials and children influencing their construction space. Those examples give the Outstanding judgement meaning. The dated inspection findings and current practical arrangements should each carry their proper weight in a family's decision.