The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at The Chadderton Preparatory School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Forest School, a sensory room and access to school tennis courts give Chadderton’s nursery day a footprint beyond its own playground. Little Gems and Pre-School sit within The Chadderton Preparatory School on Broadway in Oldham. The nursery charges sheet covers children aged two to four, with different day lengths for its younger and older groups.
At the June 2024 ISI inspection, there were two Nursery classes within the early years department. Children across early years made a positive educational start, with activities supporting thinking, movement and emotional development. That is an early years finding, rather than a separate nursery grade.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together early reading and number work with physical development and learning to get along with others. In June 2024, early years teaching combined group lessons, work in smaller groups and individual help. Spanish also featured. This gives children different ways to participate, rather than relying on one classroom format.
Role play makes learning concrete. Early years children used menus and bills in a beach café area to practise ideas about money. A January 2023 Little Gems example involved pretending to be builders in the room’s construction area while exploring people who help us. These are examples of learning through familiar situations and imaginative play.
Outdoor learning has substance here. The nursery funding sheet includes Forest School and access to the school field, alongside outdoor classroom areas. Its specialist provision also includes languages, dance, drama, music, PE and early reading activities. The listed specialist activities and facilities depend on the days a child attends, so the booking pattern affects more than childcare hours. Confirm which are available within the proposed booking pattern.
Challenge for confident learners. The June 2024 report identified insufficient stretch for some pupils with higher starting attainment across the school. This was a school-level concern; families should weigh it alongside the positive early years findings.
Staffing has distinct nursery roles. The 2025-2026 staff list includes a Pre-School lead with a Foundation Degree in Early Years Education, a Little Gems lead with a Level 3 early childhood qualification, and a Pre-School teaching assistant with a Level 3 qualification. These identify the team structure and training behind the two groups.
In June 2024, early years staffing maintained the required adult-to-child ratios, and parents received useful information about progress. The inclusion policy covering EYFS provides for monitoring development, speech therapy where necessary and changes to teaching materials for children with disabilities. Support can therefore involve both how activities are taught and specialist input.
Meals and snacks appear as charged extras on the nursery sheet; daily consumables carry no charge. This distinction matters when comparing funded childcare with the full cost of attendance.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. The school’s August 2025 admissions policy treats Nursery and Reception as distinct entry points, while its terms make movement between educational stages conditional on the school deciding that progression is appropriate. Families should confirm Reception entry arrangements directly with the school before making a longer-term commitment.
Full days run from 7.30am to 6pm for two- to three-year-olds and from 8.30am to 3.30pm for three- to four-year-olds. The charges sheet sets out three-, four- and five-day patterns, including term-time options using 15 or 30 funded hours.
For eligible children receiving 30-hour funding from September, the sheet describes 1,140 funded hours over 38 weeks, allocated at a maximum of 22.8 hours per week. Starting later or becoming eligible during the academic year can reduce the annual allocation. The office calculates the applicable hours.
The agreed essentials and extras package is optional and includes specialist activities. Contact office@thechadderton.co.uk or 0161 620 6570 for enquiries and current charges. Preschool registration follows a family discussion about whether the school can meet the child’s needs; places are offered in registration order.
The nursery charges sheet covers ages two to four, with separate arrangements for two- to three-year-olds and three- to four-year-olds.
Two- to three-year-olds have a 7.30am to 6pm day. For three- to four-year-olds, the full day is 8.30am to 3.30pm.
The sheet includes 15- and 30-hour funded options. For eligible September starters using 30-hour funding, it describes an annual allocation of 1,140 hours and a maximum weekly allocation of 22.8 hours. Later starts or eligibility changes can alter the total.
Meals and snacks are charged extras. Daily consumables have no charge, and the agreed essentials and extras package is described as optional. Contact the office for current charges.
No. Reception is a distinct entry point, and the school’s terms make progression between educational stages conditional on its assessment of whether the move is appropriate.
