URN EY295846 · Inspected 2026-07-28 · Published 2026-09-10 · Inspector: Laura Farrell
Cornhill Kindergarten Limited Unique reference number (URN): EY295846 Address: 18 Cornhill Road, Urmston, Manchester, Lancashire, M41 5TJ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 27/10/2004 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Cornhill Kindergarten Limited Inspection report: 28 July 2026 Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement Safeguarding standards met The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe. How we evaluate safeguarding When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes: Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met. Strong standard Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard Children show a sense of belonging, where they know they are safe and well cared for through secure attachments to staff. Staff know their children well, and leaders are aware of the ever-changing needs of children and their families. They consider the wellbeing of families when making decisions and offering support. Children's dignity and wellbeing are promoted as they are given privacy during personal care routines. Staff ask if it is OK to change their nappy and ensure this is carried out in a discreet manner. Children learn how to regulate their emotions and understand the emotions of others. For example, when children become upset, they seek the comfort of adults who offer cuddles and talk to them about how they are feeling and what help they may need. Babies who are new to the setting reach out to staff for comfort. Children's mental health is supported as they participate in meditations and mindfulness sessions. Children understand and talk freely about the importance of regular physical exercise and having a healthy lifestyle. They develop long lasting self-care skills, such as teeth brushing, from being a baby. Children learn how to be responsible as they tidy away after themselves and clean up spillages they accidentally make. They tend to the setting's garden, where they grow fruit and vegetables and frequently remind staff when plants need a drink of water. Staff are considerate and respectful towards children. Inclusion Strong standard Leaders make early identification of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) a priority. They are quick to seek advice from external agencies to ensure children have the support they need. Staff are highly reflective of this practice and make adaptations to support quick progress. Progress is monitored rigorously for all children, particularly for those children with SEND. Leaders are eager to upskill staff by providing research and training on the many barriers their children face. Additional funding is used to purchase resources children with SEND may need, so they are supported in every interaction. Staff are invested in leaders' vision of being inclusive. Staff started a 'sign of the week' for children to use sign language. This has now become everyday practice, and children can use signs competently to communicate their needs. Children understand routines using a visual timetable and have visuals around the setting to help them with their communication. Parents report secure communication from staff, so they know how their children are progressing. They are appreciative of the time staff spend explaining this with them. Staff understand the needs of their families and work hard to reduce any barriers they may experience. Leaders ensure smooth communication as they include external agencies in meetings. Expected standard Achievement Expected standard All children typically make progress from their respective starting points. Staff complete regular assessments and identify gaps in learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make swift progress as leaders spend much time working on meeting targets. Children are exposed to a language-rich environment, so their communication and language skills begin to develop from a young age. Children's social skills develop when they learn to play cooperatively with others, taking turns and sharing. Children become independent as they self-serve at mealtimes and pour their own drinks. Children's physical skills are supported as older children engage in exercise outdoors, and play with bats and balls. Babies learn to pull themselves up and crawl in their large area. Children progress through the setting as staff have expectations of skills they want children to learn. Staff work with parents and carers to ensure children are making this progress, for example, they invest time supporting with toilet training. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard Leaders and staff have high expectations for their children. Staff have high standards for behaviour. They understand the needs of their cohort and have worked to maintain these standards. For example, where there are moments of conflict, children are given time to resolve this themselves. On occasion, routines are not always planned well. Transitions between activities can be less structured and children do not understand what is expected of them, meaning they become restless. Staff are quick to respond by sharing their expectations calmly and respectfully, which children respond well to. Children are kind and caring towards one another and use their manners. Children play well together and create their own games, introducing storylines to their play. Children benefit from caring relationships with all staff. They are familiar with staff in their next room, so transitions between rooms are seamless. Parents and carers understand the importance of regular attendance and leaders know how to tackle poor attendance and punctuality. Children observe positive interactions between staff and their parents. Children will tell parents to have a good day as they hear this at drop-off times. Children enjoy mealtimes with their friends. Children understand the importance of washing hands, and will prepare themselves for lunch as routines are well established at this time. The setting's cooks interact with children, asking what they would like for lunch and talks to them about making healthy choices. Children can access their garden and make meals with food they have grown. Leadership and governance Expected standard Leaders understand their areas of strength and have a clear vision for the setting. They welcome feedback and look for ways in which they can improve. When improvements are needed, leaders are reflective and are quick to implement change. Leaders keep the best interests of the children at the heart of everything they do. They consider the impact of Needs attention change on the children and seek to upskill staff to best support their children. Leaders have high expectations for their curriculum. They have identified the need for improving teaching through staff interactions and have provided ongoing training. Leaders understand this is in its infancy, and so it has not yet become embedded practice. Leaders are considerate of staff workload and wellbeing. Staff report they are provided with regular supervisions where they can access training to further their professional development. This development means that staff are consistently raising the quality of care they provide for the children. Parents report that leaders share information efficiently. They access regular updates and have a policy a month shared with them. Leaders seek the views of parents regularly as they continue to develop. Leaders work with many external agencies and exhaust the support they can to raise standards for their children, particularly those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Curriculum and teaching Needs attention Inconsistencies in teaching quality and adult interactions mean that some children do not always receive the targeted support needed to maximise their learning. Although staff understand children's next steps and assessment is used effectively, this knowledge is not consistently embedded across the setting. Leaders have developed their curriculum centred around children's interests, with activities planned to engage children and support enjoyment of play. They are reflective and recognise the importance of strengthening consistency in teaching and interactions. Children are exposed to a language-rich environment. Staff take time to engage in conversations with children, encouraging language development. Babies are encouraged to babble and begin to use single words as staff commentate on play constantly, whereas older children have longer back-and-forth conversations. Mathematical learning is evident across the setting. Children use mathematical terms in their play and develop an understanding of number in pre-school. Much consideration is given to children's personal, social and emotional development as they participate in weekly mindfulness sessions. Leaders invest time understanding the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They make adaptations to their curriculum offer where needed to ensure all children are included. Staff make the most of the grounds the setting is in, and they have invested in creating an outdoor space which meets the needs of and inspires their children. Compulsory Childcare Register requirements This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. How we check if a provider meets the requirements of the Compulsory Childcare Register When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes: Met Not met Voluntary Childcare Register requirements This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register. How we check if a provider meets the requirements of the Voluntary Childcare Register When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes: Met Not met What it's like to be a child at this setting Children are welcomed into a calm and caring setting. They are greeted with smiles from kind staff who know them well. Children settle quickly and are ready to start their day. They are keen to get involved in activities and will have a go without fear. Children's confidence grows through positive interactions with staff, who offer lots of encouragement with their learning. Throughout the day, children laugh and smile whilst they play in the setting. Children quickly develop secure relationships with all staff. Children are enthusiastic when Inspector: Laura Farrell sharing their learning with staff, and eagerly shout their names. Parents and carers speak highly of these relationships, and share that staff are 'dedicated' and 'nurturing'. Staff have high expectations of their children. They explain and model these expectations clearly and calmly which children respond well to. Children's behaviour is managed well as they are given time to learn how to resolve conflict themselves before adults support patiently. Staff model the use of manners effectively and all children are encouraged to use them in their interactions. Children learn to be independent from a young age as they are taught self-help skills well. They learn lifelong skills which prepare them for the next stage in their development. Leaders support transitions into the nursery with rigorous procedures in place. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported as staff work quickly to identify needs or barriers to their learning. Staff complete regular assessments to ensure children are making progress. Leaders provide many opportunities for children in addition to the experiences they have at home. For example, children go on walks to the local butchers and learn about road safety along the way. Next steps To meet the requirements of the Early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must take the following action by the assigned date: Action Completion Date improve the quality of teaching by ensuring all staff consistently use high-quality interactions in their practice 22/10/2026 About this inspection The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, children and parents during the inspection. We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage. About this setting Unique reference number (URN): EY295846 Address: 18 Cornhill Road Urmston Manchester Lancashire M41 5TJ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registration date: 27/10/2004 Registered person: Cornhill Kindergarten Limited Register(s): EYR, CCR, VCR Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:45 - 18:00 Local authority: Trafford Facts and figures used on inspection This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection. This data is from 28 July 2026 Children numbers Age range of children at the time of inspection 1 to 4 Total number of places 47 Our grades explained Exceptional Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it. Strong standard The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them. Expected standard The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them. Needs attention The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements. Urgent improvement The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspects services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk. This publication is available at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn. Piccadilly Gate Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted © Crown copyright 2026 © Crown copyright