Fire Station Day Nursery

A restored fire station, an indoor adventure play area and a toy town give Fire Station Day Nursery in Mossley a recognisable setting for early childhood. The building provides more than a backdrop: younger children have a purpose-built soft play area, while older children have space for more adventurous indoor play. Physical activity has a substantial place here.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 8 June 2023, with mathematics, communication and children's independence among the strengths of its education. That judgement also came with practical improvements: activities needed better planning around group size and resources, and changes between parts of the day needed clearer signals.

The nursery has capacity for 150 children, accepting ages from 3 months to 60 months. That is the whole setting's capacity, rather than the size of any child's daily group.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, conversation and everyday routines all contribute to learning. The useful question is how those experiences develop as children grow, rather than whether a nursery follows the framework.

In June 2023, the learning sequence began with small decisions. Babies selected toys through gestures and movement; toddlers began expressing more complicated choices aloud. Preschool children took greater responsibility for shared projects, including deciding how to build an obstacle course and organising the equipment together. These examples show independence developing through participation, rather than simply being an adult expectation.

Number work in June 2023 extended beyond reciting a counting sequence. Children counted animals during sand play, while older children arranged numbers and explored different combinations that made five. Practical objects gave the younger children something to count; the older children's activities introduced relationships between numbers. Those are different stages of mathematical thinking.

Songs and stories also featured in June 2023. Babies joined in with song actions, and older children retold stories they knew. Preschool children voted on which story to hear, bringing language and shared decision-making into the same activity. The appeal for families is a day in which listening, speaking and making choices can happen together, rather than as separate exercises.

Outdoor and Community Life

Indoor play is a substantial part of the current offer. A purpose-built soft play area serves babies, waddlers and toddlers, while the larger indoor adventure play area is intended for older children. Separating these spaces by stage gives families something concrete to consider when comparing the physical environment for a younger child with that for a preschool child.

Group-wide facilities present at this branch include the Sensory Theatre and the imaginative toy town. These add different spaces to the nursery's indoor environment, alongside the areas devoted to physical play. Their day-to-day use matters as much as their presence.

In June 2023, children used the soft-play area for balancing, jumping and climbing. Outdoor growing also connected with food preparation: children used herbs they had grown when preparing food. That linked an outdoor experience with an everyday care routine, giving growing and eating a practical connection.

Relationships and Communication

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding, good progress for children including those with SEND, and support that involved parents and outside agencies. These are dated findings, rather than a substitute for understanding a child's individual arrangements.

In June 2023, babies had established close relationships with staff. Practitioners used language screening to identify communication needs, and support plans were put in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Parents and agencies contributed to monitoring those children's development. The mechanisms matter: identifying a need was followed by a plan and collaboration, rather than being left as an observation.

Staff support in June 2023 included supervision, observation and modelling practice. Training was connected with changes in the nursery day, including the use of language screening. For parents, that is a more useful example of professional development than a general claim about a staff team's experience.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In June 2023, adults helped children respond to disagreements by discussing feelings and possible solutions. Children practised considering what might help both themselves and their friends. Everyday independence included handwashing and toileting, so care routines also created opportunities to practise doing things for themselves.

An on-site cook was involved in children's understanding of healthy living in June 2023, and food preparation included their home-grown herbs. Mealtimes at that time included conversation between children, making eating a social part of the day as well as a care routine.

Preparation for school in June 2023 involved working with local schools. This was transition work: helping children prepare for their next stage, rather than an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, with bank holidays and Christmas excluded. Families whose work continues through school holidays should account for those closures when planning childcare.

Getting There

The address is The Old Fire Station, Manchester Road, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 9BB. Parking and dedicated drop-off areas are provided, offering a practical option for families travelling by car.

Branch enquiries can be made by telephone on 01457 834 890 or by email to fs@kzngroup.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, including a 30-hour funding route subject to eligibility. In June 2023, funded education covered two-, three- and four-year-olds. Current prices should be obtained in the nursery's written quotation.

• Activity groups. In June 2023, some activities left children waiting too long for a turn, after which their attention drifted. On a visit, ask how group sizes and equipment are matched to activities, especially those involving shared resources.
• Changes in the daily routine. In June 2023, signals such as tidy-up music were used inconsistently, and some children became upset during transitions. Ask how staff now make changes predictable for children who need extra preparation.
• Indoor spaces. Younger children have soft play, while older children have the indoor adventure play area; the Sensory Theatre and toy town add further spaces. A useful visit question is how your child's age group uses these areas during an ordinary day.

Fire Station Day Nursery merits consideration for families seeking care across the year and a substantial indoor play environment. Its younger-child soft play and older-child adventure area give it clear physical character. The June 2023 educational examples also show children taking progressively greater responsibility for choices and shared projects. Balance those strengths against the two practical improvement points: keeping children involved during group activities and making routine changes clear. Those are useful priorities for a visit.