URN 316317 · Inspected 2026-03-11 · Published 2026-05-12 · Inspector: Nic Henson
Hopwood Hall College Nursery Unique reference number (URN): 316317 Address: Hopwood Hall College, St. Marys Gate, ROCHDALE, Lancashire, OL12 6RY Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 05/04/1993 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Creche-N-Co Ltd Inspection report: 11 March 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 thrive in a nurturing and inclusive environment where they feel safe and valued. Children, including those with gaps in their development, those who speak English as an additional language or those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, progress steadily, and some achieve more rapidly across all areas of learning. Children gain confidence in making their own choices about their play, such as deciding whether to play indoors or outdoors. Babies are curious and keen to explore their environment. Older children develop their communication skills and express their needs and feelings with increasing confidence. Children gain skills for the future, such as independence. The youngest children are beginning to feed themselves with confidence. Older children serve their own food at lunch. They put on their own coats and begin to manage their self-care. For example, children use a tissue to wipe their own nose, supporting readiness for school. However, inconsistencies in the quality of teaching mean that children do not always build as securely on what they already know and can do. As a result, progress is not yet consistently secure across all areas of learning. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard Leaders have embedded a calm and wholesome environment where all children thrive and achieve. The whole staff team has high expectations of children's behaviour and attitudes to learning. Leaders quickly identify patterns of non-attendance, acting swiftly in collaboration with parents to address this. This decisive approach supports a strong foundation for regular attendance as children move on to school. Flexible settling in and focused transitions ensure children are ready for the next stage on their learning journey. Staff carefully plan the learning environment to support this. Spaces and resources are set up to encourage children to explore, try new things and take measured risks in a safe and supportive way. Children receive generous praise in recognition for the good behaviours they display. Staff recognise children's age and stage of development when considering their expectations. Positive and nurturing relationships ensure children confidently follow routines that are well established. Children develop positive relationships with adults and begin to learn how to interact and play alongside others. Leaders and staff work tirelessly to develop a sense of belonging within the provision. They develop this further by including parents and carers, such as inviting them in for play-and-stay sessions, where they can get to know staff more. Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard Leaders have established an effective key-person system. Staff have a caring approach towards children, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff build close relationships with children and families. They are responsive to the children's care needs and ensure they are readily available to support their emotional wellbeing. They work closely with parents and carers to align routines from home and offer support with eating routines, toilet training and sleep patterns. Staff use prompts for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to share what is next in their day. Careful consideration is given to settling new children. Staff make every effort to give them a calm and positive early experience. For example, if children become upset at separation, staff offer cuddles. This helps children feel settled and develop a secure sense of belonging. Staff support children's emotional wellbeing by offering reassurance and helping them to begin to recognise and express their feelings. Parents express full confidence in their child's staff, noting they understand their child's routines, preferences and needs. Leaders and staff work well alongside parents to reinforce safer sleep routines and to reduce screen time. Children's dietary and medical needs are managed effectively, such as through the use of individualised place mats. However, opportunities to consistently support children's understanding of healthy choices and managing their own wellbeing are not always fully developed. Curriculum and teaching Expected standard Leaders have made every effort to provide an ambitious curriculum that supports children's learning across all areas since their last inspection. Staff use accurate assessments of what each child already knows and can do to support learning effectively. They create next steps that are shared with parents, and this ensures children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, progress well. Staff adapt their teaching to meet children's individual needs and follow their interests well, demonstrating a secure understanding of what motivates them. Staff sequence the mathematics curriculum well. Babies have early experience of mathematical concepts and begin to understand each number has a value. Reading is promoted within the setting, although this could be further strengthened. Leaders and staff create a rich environment in which children are engaged, providing activities that enable children to explore using their independent learning. For example, children find a spider in the sand tray and rush to get a book about spiders to share with the practitioner and peers. Overall, staff support children's personal, social and emotional development through interactions and activities. However, the quality of teaching is not yet consistently secure. An understanding of how interactions can drive teaching and learning is positively taking shape, although this remains a focus to ensure every interaction is high quality. Staff support children's communication and language through regular conversations. For example, outside, children are engrossed in den building, considering how to improve their structure. Inclusion Expected standard Leaders demonstrate a clear commitment to inclusive practice. Leaders consider children's backgrounds and make adaptations to their curriculum to best support each child in their care. They promptly identify children's individual needs through clear assessment processes that are well understood by all staff. Leaders monitor children's progress closely and review the impact of support regularly, adapting strategies where needed to ensure children continue to make appropriate progress from their starting points. Leaders ensure funding is used to invest in a wide range of equipment to promote children's learning and wellbeing. For instance, staff give clear rationales to leaders to carefully explain how resources will impact learning positively to help close gaps. This approach further embeds staff's understanding of the significant importance of inclusion for all children. Staff work closely with families and use their bilingual staff members with those who speak English as an additional language. Leaders work with a range of experts to develop personalised support, particularly for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Staff regularly review plans with parents and external professionals, so support remains focused. Staff know each child's next steps well and adapt activities so that children can take part and succeed. This builds harmonious relationships that put the children at the heart of all they do. Leadership and governance Expected standard Leaders and the staff team work cohesively together and are united in their approach to providing the best care for all. Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of the setting's strengths and priorities for improvement. They have positive and meaningful aspirations for the future quality they are aiming for. Leaders offer a variety of approaches and support to staff to ensure they manage their workload and wellbeing. Staff are set personalised goals and expectations are agreed for individual staff to enhance their professional development. For example, staff are promoted within to develop roles as room leaders. Leaders provide regular training opportunities to develop staff knowledge and skills. However, monitoring of practice is not always precise enough to identify where improvements are needed most. As a result, opportunities to strengthen practice through professional development are not always used to best effect. Leaders foster valuable collaboration among staff, parents, external professionals, and they make positive links within their local authority team. This enables all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, to thrive. Parents are kept well informed and are supported effectively by leaders and staff to continue their children's successful learning and development at home. 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 happy, safe and well cared for in this inclusive nursery. Staff are warm and nurturing in their approach to teaching and learning. This means children achieve well. Staff build positive relationships quickly, which supports children to have a secure sense of belonging and feel safe. Leaders' flexible approach to their session offering and settling-in sessions for new starters promotes good attendance and is praised by families. This allows all children to have the security they need to begin learning from the moment they start. Inspector: Nic Henson About this setting Leaders have worked tirelessly since their last inspection to act upon recommendations swiftly and embed these into everyday practice. This ensures children learn through a varied and well-thought-out curriculum that is engaging and links closely to their unique interests. Children are valued as individuals and their interests are celebrated through activities that pique their curiosity. Staff's knowledge of the children in their care is reflected in their approach to curriculum design. They plan purposefully, with clear intent. Age-appropriate resources in each room mean children are excited to learn and have a positive attitude to learning. Leaders and staff are dedicated to their role and reduce barriers to children's learning. Interventions are swift, and children receive the support they need to make progress from their relative starting points. For example, children who speak English as an additional language use flashcards, which are shared with home for consistency. Staff engage positively with families as they work together for the best outcomes for every child. This results in an inclusive setting where all children achieve and thrive. Next steps Leaders should consider how to further promote a love for reading across all areas of learning. Leaders should support staff to further strengthen interactions to ensure they are purposeful, specifically when rooms work together for outdoor learning. Leaders should improve the consistency of daily health and hygiene routines so that children are supported to develop a secure understanding of healthy practices. About this inspection The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners, the special educational needs and disabilities coordinator, 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. Unique reference number (URN): 316317 Address: Hopwood Hall College St. Marys Gate ROCHDALE Lancashire OL12 6RY Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registration date: 05/04/1993 Registered person: Creche-N-Co Ltd Register(s): EYR, CCR, VCR Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 08:00 - 18:00 Local authority: Rochdale Facts and figures used on inspection This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection. This data is from 11 March 2026 Children numbers Age range of children at the time of inspection 0 to 4 Total number of places 85 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. 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