Lever Edge Early Years Unit
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Bolton for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2024. Open since 2013, with 26 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
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
BL3 3HPWhat 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, 14 June 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The experienced and nurturing staff welcome children into this safe and inviting nursery. They offer gentle reassurance to babies and children who are new to nursery. Children enter excitedly with their friends and separate easily from their parents. They settle quickly and develop secure relationships with staff, who help them to feel happy and safe.
Staff provide a broad curriculum with clear learning intentions. Carefully planned activities support the children to make good progress in their development. For example, babies giggle as they splash in the water tray. They explore different textures, and their small hand muscles are developed as they scoop and hunt for toy fish. Staff help all children to persist as they develop their physical strength and coordination. Babies enjoy digging in the sandpit, and younger children run, balance, climb and slide in the spacious nursery garden. Children benefit from regular forest-school activities within the school grounds. They also enjoy trips to the running track. As a result, babies and children become strong and physically confident.
Staff encourage children to work together during learning experiences, to help build on their personal, social and emotional development. Children are supported to be kind and respectful towards one another from a young age. Staff are good role models and gently remind children of the rules and boundaries at nursery. This helps children to learn rules and how to behave well.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the deployment of staff to help consistently support the individual needs of all children.
- 14 June 2024Good
- 11 July 2018Outstanding
- 10 February 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lever Edge Early Years Unit
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.