Spring Willows Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Heywood for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 1997, 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 Rochdale
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Rochdale 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
OL10 1QBWhat 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, 20 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff are enthusiastic and motivated at this safe and welcoming setting, which parents say is 'vibrant' and 'full of joy'. Pre-school children's excitement bubbles as they remember that they are going on a trip down a hill to the forest. Staff explain that walking up and down the hill will help them to build strong muscles in their legs. Children begin to understand that there is a purpose to activities. This helps them to develop a positive attitude to learning.
The curriculum is planned to support children in developing their independence, communication and social skills. As children progress through the setting the curriculum is enhanced, and children are offered wider opportunities. For example, they develop their knowledge of basic mathematics, and they learn to recognise their own name. Staff know these skills will help children with future learning at school. Staff are calm as they engage with children. They model good behaviour.
Children are supported with gentle reminders to share and turn take. Staff refer to the 'golden rules', using visual cues to help children who are less verbal. Children respond well to staff requests. Behaviour is good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to give children time to think and resolve the problems that they encounter during play, so they consistently develop their thinking and problemsolving skills n organise transitions between routines effectively, so that children remain aware and confident in what will happen next during the day.
- 20 September 2024Good
- 15 October 2018Good
- 16 September 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Spring Willows Playgroup
- 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.