URN EY409917 · Inspected 2026-01-29 · Published 2026-04-13 · Inspector: Lisa Grundy
Angels & Acorns Unique reference number (URN): EY409917 Address: North End House, North End Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 3AZ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 05/05/2010 Registers: EYR, CCR Registered person: Little Angels Pre School (Stalybridge) Ltd Inspection report: 29 January 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. Expected standard Achievement Expected standard Children are happy and settled and immerse themselves into the nursery daily routine. Children are praised during play and have a 'can-do' attitude to their learning. They benefit from the organisation of the environment allowing a broad range of skills to develop. Children enjoy using the equipment to climb, run and roll, promoting their physical development. Staff provide teaching to meet the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who face barriers to their learning. Children make progress from their starting points at the setting. They thrive within the nursery environment. Children show some confidence in their learning, and, at times, are happy to show what they know and can do. For example, children climb and slide down the soft play provided with increasing confidence and control. They have a great sense of pride when they are able to do tasks for themselves. Children develop their early mathematical development. They count and use mathematical language during play. For example, children explore different- sized rocks and describe these as 'heavy', 'small' and 'big'. Parents speak positively of the progress their children have made since starting. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard Staff are good role models and provide opportunities for all children to develop their next steps further. They show respect for all children and their families and model positive behaviours. Children follow rules and boundaries set by the nursery well. Children are praised when they follow instructions and use their manners. This is supporting children from an early age to become school ready. Children follow the daily routine; they know when mealtimes are and how they sit at the table to eat their snacks and meals. Children wash their hands and feed themselves independently. Children feel safe and secure at the nursery. They build close bonds with their key person and seek comfort when needed. Leaders and staff monitor children's attendance well and share the importance of regular attendance and the benefits with their families. Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard Leaders and staff ensure children's wellbeing is high priority. They support children and families to lead healthy lifestyles by providing a healthy, balanced diet for all the children. Children enjoy home-cooked meals served at the nursery. Recipes are shared with families to support healthy choices at home. Children are learning to be increasingly independent, for example by wiping their own noses and feeding themselves at lunchtime. Children are happy and content at the nursery. They build bonds with their key person and seek reassurance when required throughout the day. Children enjoy exploring the nursery and the activities provided. The nursery is calm and supports children's emotional development well. Children and staff sit together at mealtimes and share conversations in the calm environment. Staff talk to the children and ask their permission to change their nappies. This supports children in making positive choices. Children are building on their confidence at the setting. When the children are praised, this encourages them to smile and have a 'can-do' attitude towards their learning. Children enjoy exploring natural resources at the setting and creating different styles of play using their own imagination. Children are kind and caring when they help to look after the setting's pet rabbits. Leaders and staff support children to feed and water them to keep them healthy. This helps children to learn to take care of living things. Curriculum and teaching Expected standard Leaders have a clear understanding of the quality of staff's teaching of the curriculum. They have created a well-thought-out curriculum that covers all areas of learning. Leaders ensure that children develop important knowledge about language, books, mathematics and being independent. Staff skilfully select activities to build on children's previous learning well. However, leaders' curriculum is in its infancy, and it is too soon to see the full impact of the consistency in staff's delivery of the curriculum. Staff focus on getting to know each child when they first start at the setting. This helps integrate them into the nursery and feel part of the nursery ethos. Leaders and staff know children's starting points when they arrive. This helps them to know what children already know and can do. Staff are good role models and provide opportunities for children to develop their next steps further. Children develop skills that support their future learning. For example, they enjoy sharing stories with the staff and using props to bring the story to life. This builds on children's early literacy skills. Children build positive relationships with their key persons. This supports them to follow children's interest further. Children benefit from sensory play. They enjoy playing with bubbles as they 'pop, pop, pop' them. This supports children's creativity, and they smile with delight as they immerse themselves in play. Staff are teaching the children to become independent and school ready. Children enjoy following instructions well. They complete tasks to enhance their learning and development. For example, children tidy up after themselves and follow simple instructions well. Inclusion Expected standard Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or who face barriers to their learning, are supported well at the setting. Leaders and staff work with families to support children's wellbeing and next steps in learning and development. All children are included, and learning is tailored to meet their needs. The setting has created a calming and inclusive environment for all children. Staff create a tranquil environment for all children to play and learn. Leaders work closely with the staff team and with parents to ensure they really know each child and what support is needed. This includes any adaptations to planned activities and routines. These are skilfully implemented into daily practice. For example, settling-in sessions are extended if required to support children's transitions into the nursery. Partnerships with parents work well to ensure children's needs are being met. Children embrace the activities and experiences offered by the staff team to ensure children's next steps are achievable and enjoyable for everyone. Children make progress from their personal starting points. Leaders seek support from external agencies when required to support barriers to children's learning and development. This ensures that children are getting the right support they need to move on to their next stage of learning. Leaders and staff are fully committed to ensure all children are included and really thrive at the setting. Leadership and governance Expected standard Leaders have a clear vision of where they want the setting to be. This is shared with the staff team and is in the early development stages. Leaders and staff spend time to get to know the children before they start so they know more about them and their families. This helps children to settle into the setting, as they are aware of their likes and dislikes and what comforts them if needed. Leaders support the staff team well. They regularly review their practice and support their wellbeing. Staff feel valued and supported well by the leaders of the nursery. They feel listened to and are able to share ideas to support their practice. Professional development is ongoing and at its early stages. As such, it is too early to see the full impact that this has on the staff's training and development. There is still more scope to provide staff with ongoing support and coaching to build on their knowledge and skills even further to provide consistently high- quality teaching in all areas. Leaders have good partnerships with parents and carers. Outside agencies' advice and support is sought when children face barriers to their learning and development to seek further support for children. Leaders provide parents with home learning ideas to help extend children's learning further at home. Parents speak highly of the setting's communication and how they feel like nothing is ever too much trouble. 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 What it's like to be a child at this setting Children arrive happy and separate from their parents and carers well at this inclusive and nurturing setting. They quickly settle with their key person, showing they feel happy, safe and secure in the setting. Leaders and staff take the time to really get to know the children and families during settling-in sessions. This helps children and families build a positive relationship with the staff from the beginning. Leaders and staff support children to feel welcome by understanding each individual child's needs. They promote good attendance. Children benefit from the routines in place and know what comes next. For example, children tidy up after activities and they know it is lunchtime. This supports children's independence skills to help prepare them for their next stage of learning. Children's physical development is supported well. Children enjoy indoor and outdoor spaces to move around and learn skills such as rolling, climbing and sliding. They learn to play safely. Children make progress from their starting points at the setting. Children's language and communication skills are supported well. Leaders and staff are good role models. Children learn new words and use these during play sessions. For example, children learn to explore different materials using words such as 'spiky' and 'prickly'. Staff give children time to respond to conversations to allow them to think and process what they want to say. Staff model correct pronunciation when children talk to them. This helps to support children's vocabulary skills. Inspector: Lisa Grundy About this setting Unique reference number (URN): EY409917 Address: North End House North End Road Stalybridge Cheshire SK15 3AZ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registration date: 05/05/2010 Registered person: Little Angels Pre School (Stalybridge) Ltd Register(s): EYR, CCR Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:00 Local authority: Tameside Next steps Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is embedded and of consistently high quality. Leaders should continue to provide staff with ongoing support and coaching to build on their knowledge and skills to raise teaching to an even higher standard. About this inspection The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners, special educational needs coordinator, 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. Facts and figures used on inspection This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection. This data is from 29 January 2026 Children numbers Age range of children at the time of inspection 0 to 10 Total number of places 52 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. 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