Heaton Dene Nursery School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Bolton for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2017, with 80 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
What childcare usually costs in Bolton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bolton from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BL5 3NJWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 1 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, confident and settled in this inclusive nursery. They form secure attachments with familiar staff, who are warm and responsive to children's individual care needs. They provide a calm, nurturing space where children are safe and secure. Babies cuddle up to staff as they read stories, and older children explore emotions through story books that introduce the concepts of feelings and emotions as they sit quietly in the cosy corner. Staff promote positive behaviour and celebrate children's achievements, helping to build their self-esteem and resilience. Consequently, all children behave well and show a real sense of belonging.
Leaders implement a well-planned curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. Staff gather accurate information about children's starting points before they join the nursery. They spend time observing children to carry out early assessments and identify appropriate next steps in learning. Children are confident and engaged, showing positive attitudes towards learning. For example, toddlers show good levels of concentration and perseverance as they develop their hand–
eye coordination, carefully attempting to remove the lids from colouring pens independently. All children make good progress from their individual starting points.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider ways to introduce and reinforce new words to children to increase their vocabulary and enhance their communication and language skills n support staff to ensure the learning intentions for planned activities are clearly defined and tailored to individual children, so that they can more effectively support each child's next steps in learning.
- 1 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 5 December 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Heaton Dene Nursery School
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.