The Old Library Nursery

In August 2024, a sensory room, farm outings and books taken home shaped The Old Library Nursery's mix of exploration and relationships. At its August 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall, found safeguarding effective and praised the support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Based on Wardle Road in Rochdale, the nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. The inspection gives a useful picture of its strengths, alongside clear work to do on staff development.

In August 2024, learning extended beyond toys and table activities: farm trips introduced animal habitats, while children discussed how frogs develop. Library visits and borrowing books for home connected stories with family life. These experiences gave children material to talk about and explore together.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and everyday independence into their day. In August 2024, babies had space to practise moving their bodies, while outdoor ring games and an obstacle course gave children physical challenges.

Reading also became imaginative play. Children acted out story characters, discussed pictures and recognised familiar words. However, some practitioners lacked clarity about the intended learning and sometimes struggled to sustain children's interest. Training and coaching needed further development, with inconsistent vocabulary among the examples of uneven practice.

In August 2024, each child's settling arrangements were tailored to their family, with a key person helping staff understand their needs. Support for SEND involved parents and outside professionals in drawing up intervention plans. The sensory room provided a space for work on emotions and social development.

Everyday care encouraged independence: babies practised cleaning their faces after food, and older children put on coats and helped tidy. Staff discussed toothbrushing and visits to the dentist, alongside healthy eating. Nutritious food formed part of the day.

Parents received information about care and learning, including ideas for early writing at home. Social gatherings offered opportunities to exchange parenting advice. These were practical links between nursery and home.

The address is Wardle Road, Rochdale, OL12 9ER. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank-holiday closures.

In August 2024, the nursery also closed for a week at Christmas and provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That funding position belongs to the inspection period.

• Consistency of teaching. In August 2024, some staff were unclear about learning intentions, and coaching arrangements were still developing. Ask how staff now plan activities and receive support to improve their practice.
• Your child's daily pattern. The opening window runs from 7.30am to 5.30pm. Which attendance arrangement and settling plan would fit your child's routine?

The Old Library Nursery suits families who value books, practical independence and learning beyond the nursery building. Its August 2024 picture combines individual settling arrangements and family involvement with an important qualification: staff understanding of the curriculum and the consistency of coaching needed strengthening. Those are useful priorities for a visit discussion.