St Matthew's Playgroup
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Oldham for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 1996, with 40 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 Oldham
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Oldham 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
OL1 2RQWhat 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, 10 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and settled in this warm and welcoming setting. They leave their parents and carers with a wave, excited to start the day. Staff know the children well and use this information to help meet their individual needs. Staff spend dedicated time with children when they first start, sensitively providing reassurance and offering experiences that engage them. This means children feel secure, as they receive care and attention. This helps to promote their overall wellbeing.
Staff provide children with a rich and varied curriculum. They engage well with children as they play. For example, younger children skilfully sort puzzles while older children explore the role play area, talking about their family members.
Children show delight in their achievements and have beaming smiles when they are praised. Overall, children build on their skills over time.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- continue to monitor and focus on strengthening staff practice to raise the quality of teaching for all children.
- 10 September 2024Good
- 17 September 2018Outstanding
- 9 November 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Matthew's 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.