Monton Village Nursery and Forest School

Sensory play for the youngest children, imaginative topics for toddlers and stage performances for preschool children give Monton Village Nursery and Forest School a recognisable educational character. On Francis Street in Eccles, it combines early reading and number work with opportunities to explore, make things and practise everyday independence. Learning extends beyond a table-top activity.

The nursery accepts children from 3 months and has 103 places in total. At its 1 February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support to make progress. That dated judgement needs to be read alongside the later safeguarding actions discussed below.

Rooms and Ages

Older Squirrels welcomes children making the move from the youngest group between 12 and 15 months, with indoor and outdoor movement, sensory exploration and songs supporting emerging speech. The arrangement gives newly mobile children opportunities to explore while keeping communication and personal development central to their day.

Nursery School, where most children aged 2 to 3 are based, combines imaginative play with early literacy, number activities and investigations, including learning through a mud kitchen. Counting can happen individually, while shapes can become part of a football activity. These are concrete alternatives to expecting every child to learn in the same way.

The toddler routine also includes practising outdoor clothing, using cutlery and working with parents on toilet training. Everyday tasks become part of learning. They give children opportunities to attempt something themselves, with help when they need it, rather than having every practical job done for them.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for learning and care: here, play and adult-guided activities support communication, physical development, relationships and early literacy and maths. It is the common foundation for early-years provision. Monton's additions include gym and dance activities, imaginative drama and performances for families.

Topics in Nursery School change with children's interests. Staff use observations to choose a theme, then carry it into activities and introduce related vocabulary. Science investigations encourage children to question what happens and connect ideas. This gives a child's current fascination a place in the planned learning, rather than treating it as a distraction from the programme.

Drama has a clear audience and occasion. The Pre-School Group stages productions at Christmas and in summer, bringing singing, dancing and performance onto a stage for families. These give older children an opportunity to practise expressing themselves in front of others, alongside the role play already woven into their day.

Outdoor and Community Life

Celebration Days introduce children to different cultures, beliefs and ways of life through activities and discussion. Charity days take place during the year and include dressing up; staff explain the cause being supported, connecting fundraising with care for other people.

Outdoor exploration also belongs to the educational approach. In February 2024, toddlers used deliberately selected outdoor equipment to practise climbing stairs before moving to their next room. That is a useful example of planning a physical experience around a practical next step, rather than offering equipment simply to fill playtime.

Relationships and Communication

In February 2024, staff responded promptly when children were distressed and gathered detailed information from parents when settling was difficult. They also helped children recognise how their actions affected other people. These observations give substance to the relationship between emotional support and the daily routine, while remaining a picture of practice at that time.

NurseryCAM is a remote viewing service for parents, with access authorised by the nursery and restricted to their child's playroom while the child attends. Parents can view for 15 minutes each day, only within 9.30am to noon and 2pm to 4pm. Tapestry lets families follow their child's progress, while half-termly newsletters bring together group news and dates for activities. These serve different purposes: seeing part of the day, following development and keeping track of nursery events.

A supernumerary manager is available throughout the day. The team includes group leaders and cook roles, with staff also studying towards further childcare qualifications. That structure gives families a management contact alongside the staff working directly with children.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In February 2024, the SENCo worked with parents and external agencies on children's next steps. The nursery also maintained a working relationship with the local health visitor around assessments, including the progress check at age two. These are specific support mechanisms, rather than a blanket promise about every child's experience.

There were two clear weaknesses in February 2024: quieter children sometimes lost learning opportunities when more confident children dominated activities, and handwashing after wiping noses was inconsistent. Both matter in ordinary daily care. Activities need to include the less vocal child, and hygiene needs to remain consistent between planned routines.

Ofsted's complaint outcomes dated 18 October 2024 and 3 January 2025 recorded repeated safeguarding-related shortcomings followed by corrective action, including changes to induction and training, with the later outcome addressing timely reporting of concerns about staff. The repetition is material when weighing the earlier Good judgement; corrective action should not be treated as a new inspection grade.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Francis Street, Eccles, Manchester, M30 9PR. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas. This makes the annual closure pattern as relevant to family planning as the daily opening window.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0161 789 0472 or by email at montonmanager@gmail.com.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education is offered for eligible two-year-olds and for three- and four-year-olds, including 15-hour funding and a conditional 30-hour entitlement. Funding reduces payments; it should be kept separate from the cost of additional childcare. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Cooks prepare food on site, including breakfast, a morning snack, lunch and a light tea. The nursery offers accommodation for vegetarian diets, allergies and intolerances, and works with parents on babies' weaning arrangements.

• Repeated safeguarding actions. The October 2024 and January 2025 outcomes both involved safeguarding practice and corrective action. On a visit, ask how induction, reporting concerns about staff and ongoing training are checked in everyday work.
• Quieter children and hygiene. In February 2024, confident children sometimes dominated activities and handwashing after nose wiping was inconsistent. Ask how staff now adapt group activities and maintain hygiene between routines.
• The written cost breakdown. Funded hours reduce payments, while meals and snacks form part of the nursery day. Ask for a quotation separating funded attendance, additional hours, food and non-food consumables, and showing how funding fits the intended booking pattern.
• Dietary arrangements. On-site cooking and individual weaning arrangements may matter greatly to families managing food needs. Confirm the current handling of your child's allergy or intolerance before agreeing care.

Monton suits families seeking year-round childcare with playful early learning, opportunities for independence and performances that involve parents. Older Squirrels, Nursery School and the Pre-School Group give the educational offer a clear progression, while NurseryCAM and Tapestry provide different ways to stay connected.

The decision also carries a serious qualification: repeated safeguarding actions followed the February 2024 Good judgement. The learning detail gives families reasons to consider the nursery, but the later history makes scrutiny of current staff practice essential.