Nursery where ‘staff beam with delight’ and kids receive a ‘flying start’ earns glowing praise from watchdog

Cornerhouse Day Nursery in Lees

A nursery in Oldham has been told it’s ‘so special’ in a glowing report by Ofsted inspectors.

Cornerhouse Day Nursery in Lees was told it ‘requires improvement’ after its last inspection – but this time staff impressed the government watchdog with ‘genuine care’ and ‘delight’. 

The full day care provider on Cross Street, which caters for around 48 babies and toddlers, received a good rating in all four areas of the inspection: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership. 

Inspector Luke Heaney described how ‘staff beam with delight when they see children arrive each morning’ with kids ‘eager’ to hug and play. 

Heaney also said that ‘children get off to a flying start in their early education’ and described how kids go on ‘nature walks’ with staff, ‘showcase their dance moves’ and ‘create artworks in the style of different artists’. 

“Children relish story time,” he added.

“They sit with their friends and gasp in anticipation while staff read to them.

"Children enjoy visiting the local library.” 

He praised the ‘strong sense of belonging’ developed by kids at the nursery, though he noted that ‘staff do not broaden children’s understanding of people and communities beyond their own’. 

The nursery first opened in 2012 and has received a ‘good’ rating in most inspection years, except last year.

The loss of their good rating last year is in part because the nursery had to close for two days after a ‘significant incident’ affected the cleanliness of the premises and failed to inform the watchdog.  

But Heaney noted that the eight nursery staff had ‘worked hard’ to address problems identified at the last inspection.

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.