Saplings Day Nursery
Good★ 4.9 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Bolton for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 December 2023. Open since 2009, 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
BL5 2BXWhat 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.
- 14 May 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 18 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children warmly as they arrive. They focus on ensuring that children are happy, safe and ready to learn. Staff are very attentive to children's individual needs. They prioritise building strong and trusting relationships with their key children. As a result, babies who are new to the nursery settle with ease. Babies also display good levels of confidence as they eagerly explore their nurturing environment. Older children demonstrate high levels of independence and enjoyment as they explore the outside area. Children happily help with small tasks, such as putting toys away after an activity or carrying their plates during mealtimes. These purposeful activities help children to gain a sense of responsibility, which prepares them for the next stage of their learning.
Staff are active participants in children's play. For example, they join in with enthusiasm and engagement. Babies use their senses to explore the world around them. They feel the flour with staff as they scoop and pour the tactile resources.
Babies benefit from lots of opportunities to practise their developing physical skills as they climb, crawl and pull themselves up. Staff promote children's mathematical development and build upon their prior learning. For example, staff count the number of drops of green food colouring added to milk. Toddlers use their imagination effectively to bring their ideas to life. For example, they talk about the new 'Grinch milk' colours they have made. Children are also developing a secure knowledge of mathematical concepts.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve the organisation of group activities, to help children remain focused and engaged in their learning.
- 18 December 2023Good
- 20 March 2018Good
- 14 February 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Saplings Day Nursery
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.