Heron Day Nursery

A nursery dog, a separate school-leavers room and termly reports shaped with parents give Heron Day Nursery its character. Based at St Johns Centre on Brick Kiln Lane in Wigan, it combines play chosen by children with activities guided by adults, using information from home to help decide what comes next. The emphasis is on getting to know the child before planning the learning.

At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall, found safeguarding effective and recognised effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, while identifying weaknesses in extending independent play and introducing new vocabulary. Those findings are dated. A later notification failure also matters to the overall assessment.

Heron has capacity for 148 children, with an accepted age range of 1 to 60 months. Attendance options include full-time, part-time and 9-3 sessions, alongside school-age wraparound care.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Room spans 0-18 months, followed by the Lower Toddler Room from 18 months to 2 1/2 years and the Upper Toddler Room from 2 1/2 to 3 years. The Lower Preschool Room serves children aged 3-4; the Upper Preschool Room, also called the School Leavers Room, has the same age band. That final distinction gives families of older children a useful question about how the two preschool stages differ in practice.

In May 2022, the youngest children received comfort through being held, rocked and spoken to gently. Toddlers explored filling and emptying containers, while preschool children selected painting materials themselves and managed their coats. These examples show different developmental priorities: reassurance for babies, coordination for toddlers and increasing independence for older children.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for early learning and care; children develop skills through play, conversation and practical activity. Heron's approach combines activities led by adults with play initiated by children, both inside and outdoors. Staff use children's interests and information from home when planning experiences, so the curriculum has a connection to the individual child rather than relying solely on a fixed activity list.

Physical resources make the approach easier to understand. In May 2022, children manipulated dough with different levels of firmness and used pipe cleaners to shape it, exercising the hand movements needed for later writing. Older children also worked with sand and large construction blocks, with adults bringing counting and estimates into their building.

The limitations were equally specific. In May 2022, adult support became less effective when children moved away from the planned task, and opportunities to introduce unfamiliar words during independent play were missed. For parents, the important distinction is between an engaging planned activity and the teaching that continues when a child takes it in another direction.

Relationships and Communication

Termly reports are shared with parents, and targets are agreed together. An online parent portal also provides daily updates and information about development, alongside parents evenings. The two forms of communication serve different purposes: day-to-day contact keeps families connected, while the termly discussion gives them a part in choosing the next learning priorities.

In May 2022, staff shared practical guidance with parents, including approaches to toilet training and ideas for continuing learning at home. Children practised sharing and waiting while taking turns with pretend teeth and toothpaste. This was everyday care turned into a learning activity, linking cooperation with an explanation of dental hygiene.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The staff structure includes a nursery SENCO and a deputy SENCO, as well as designated safeguarding roles and a wellbeing lead. These are identifiable responsibilities within the team, giving families a clearer route for discussing additional needs or concerns. Paediatric first-aid training also appears across the staff team.

A nursery therapy dog is part of Heron's current offer. In May 2022, children spent time with the dog and learnt about its care, including children who had previously been fearful of dogs. This adds an animal-care experience to the nursery day; families whose children are anxious around animals should explore how participation is managed.

Ofsted's complaint outcome dated 21 August 2024 recorded a failure to notify it about a significant event, although the regulatory call had established that environmental risks had been addressed and safeguarding procedures and adjustments to staff deployment were understood. That outcome did not record the notification failure as resolved, and the provider remained registered at that point.

Sessions and Attendance

Normal opening hours are 7.30am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, with care until 6pm requiring an arrangement in advance. Full-time and part-time attendance are offered, together with 9-3 sessions. The usual closing time therefore matters when matching childcare to work commitments; the later finish needs a separate agreement.

Heron opens for 51 weeks, closing for bank holidays and a week over Christmas and New Year. The term-date arrangements distinguish funded attendance from private and full-time places: children with a full-time place, a private place or a 51-hour funded contract can continue attending during half terms. A funded arrangement should therefore be considered alongside its actual attendance calendar.

Getting There

The address is St Johns Centre, Brick Kiln Lane, Wigan, WN1 1XH. Enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form.

Breakfast and afterschool care serves Mabs Cross Community Primary School and St Mary’s and St John’s Catholic Primary School. Breakfast care begins at 7.30am and afterschool care finishes at 5.45pm, with an extension to 6pm by prior agreement. These are childcare arrangements for school-age children, rather than an admissions advantage for nursery children.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and private places are both offered. The attendance terms distinguish ordinary funded attendance from the 51-hour funded contract, making the contract itself important when comparing year-round childcare needs. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

A nursery cook and kitchen assistants are part of the team. Food preparation therefore has its own staff roles rather than being presented solely as a practitioner responsibility.

• Teaching during independent play. In May 2022, extending learning beyond planned tasks and introducing unfamiliar vocabulary were improvement priorities. During a visit, ask how practitioners now respond when children change the direction of an activity.
• The August 2024 notification finding. The outcome dated 21 August recorded a failure to notify a significant event. Ask what notification procedures were changed and how the responsibility is checked.
• Matching the contract to the week. Normal closing is 5.45pm, later care needs prior agreement, and half-term attendance depends on the type of place. Bring your required weekly pattern to a visit and discuss it alongside the funded or private contract.
• The younger rooms. The Baby Room covers 0-18 months and the next stage begins at 18 months. Ask about the baby room's usual group size and how moves between rooms are agreed with parents.

Heron suits families seeking either full-time attendance or 9-3 sessions, with part-time options also in the mix. Parent involvement has a concrete structure through daily updates and jointly agreed termly targets, while the nursery dog adds character to daily life. The May 2022 inspection is useful context, but the teaching priorities and the August 2024 notification finding deserve direct discussion before choosing a place.