Food
Healthy and delicious food provided, limiting sugar, salt, and refined white carbohydrates, and including milk, fish, lean meat, wholemeal bread, and various fruits and vegetables.
Elm Cottage Nursery, established in 1989, provides nurturing childcare in a stimulating "home from home" environment. The nursery prioritises emotional security and intellectual growth for all children, from infants upwards, aiming to help them reach their full potential through its "Maximum Opportunity to Develop Full Potential" policy.
With a strong commitment to safety, Elm Cottage ensures all staff are trained in paediatric first aid, even offering workshops for parents, and its nurseries have achieved the Millie's Mark quality accreditation. The nursery focuses on healthy eating, with meals planned to be nutritious and balanced.
Elm Cottage follows The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework to support children in achieving key developmental outcomes. The staff team is highly qualified, with 98% holding NVQ Level 3 or above, and a significant portion possessing degrees in Early Childhood Studies, including a qualified teacher and an Early Years Teacher.
Our ethos
Our nurseries were founded in the belief that young children fair best in a ‘home from home’ environment where they feel loved, safe and emotionally secure. As well as focusing on comfort and emotional security, we have always believed that children deserve to live in a richly stimulating environment. We consider that it is our responsibility to ensure that all children attending our nurseries from babies upwards are therefore provided with love, affection and intellectual stimulation at all times. We have called this our ‘Maximum Opportunity to Develop Full Potential’ policy and it is central to all childcare activities at Elm Cottage.
What it's like
Children are happy and safe in this stimulating and well-organised nursery. They make good progress across the seven areas of learning and development because staff have high expectations. Children behave well and learn ways to keep themselves healthy.
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Request pricing →Food
Healthy and delicious food provided, limiting sugar, salt, and refined white carbohydrates, and including milk, fish, lean meat, wholemeal bread, and various fruits and vegetables.
Opening hours
8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for one week at Christmas.
Term time / All Year
All Year
Last inspected 20 December 2022 · Suzanne Fenwick
What it's like to attend
Children are happy and safe in this stimulating and well-organised nursery. They make good progress across the seven areas of learning and development because staff have high expectations. Children behave well and learn ways to keep themselves healthy.
Inspector highlights
Areas to develop
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents speak positively about the nursery.
Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector.
Inclusion & environment
There is an experienced special educational needs coordinator in place. She effectively disseminates her training to the staff team. This ensures that staff put in place purposeful targeted plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff seamlessly integrate these plans into all aspects of children's day, including during routines and at times of transition. This ensures children's individual needs are consistently met.
Children have access to a well-planned outdoor environment, where they can get daily fresh air and exercise. Children spend time practising their coordination and balance skills with the support of staff.
We have been absolutely delighted with our children’s time at Elm Cottage Nursery in Cheadle. Both our daughter and son have attended. Our son settled in very quickly despite having previously attended a different nursery, which really speaks volumes about how welcoming and nurturing the environment is. The staff are incredibly personable, approachable and highly experienced, with many having worked at the nursery for a long time. This continuity makes a huge difference and gives real confidence as parents. The outdoor space is excellent and has been recently upgraded, providing a fantastic area for the children to learn and play. Communication is outstanding, with the team always taking the time to offer detailed end-of-day handovers. They have also been incredibly supportive and attentive with any medical concerns our children have had, which has been hugely reassuring. Our daughter had a complex febrile seizure at home when she was 11 months old. The team at Elm Cottage were amazing in supporting us through this; both in taking the time to talk to us on a personal level and also in diligently putting together a detailed medical plan for her. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Elm Cottage to other families — it’s a truly caring and supportive nursery.
Read on GoogleMy son has just turned one and has been going to this nursery for about 4 months now. The staff are friendly, warm and genuine, seem to do a great job with the kids. The food menu is very good, delighted with the variety and creativity of the meals. The setting is brilliant with lots of outdoor space, although he's not had much chance to enjoy it as it's winter (and he's not yet walking). Based on our experience so far, would definitely recommend.
Read on GoogleMy daughter used to attend this nursery, and I feel it’s important to raise serious safeguarding concerns. During a visit from a social worker, I was present while she physically checked my 2-year-old daughter in her private area to see if she had wet herself. At the time, I felt this was unusual but gave the benefit of the doubt. Later, after seeking advice, I learned this was not acceptable. I requested CCTV footage from the nursery to document the incident, but they told me it was not available. In a report, the nursery claimed the incident did not happen, stating my daughter was supervised at all times. This is untrue, as I was there and clearly remember the event. I also have documentary evidence supporting my account. I am deeply concerned that the nursery staff may have attempted to conceal a genuine safeguarding concern to protect the social worker, rather than prioritising the safety of the children. While my daughter no longer attends, I believe other parents should be aware of my experience and the concerns I have about this nursery. Edited reply to the response from Elm Cottage Nursery I maintain CCTV coverage at my home, and recordings can be retained for significantly longer than three months—potentially for a year or more. In light of this, I find it difficult to accept that no CCTV footage was available, particularly given that allegations of abuse involving young children may only come to light some time after the incident. I reiterate my belief that staff at the nursery have failed to act transparently and may have covered up a serious incident involving my child. Their primary duty of care was to safeguard my child. That responsibility rests with the nursery and its staff, not with the social worker.
Read on GoogleAn outstanding nursery where both of my children have truly thrived. The staff are exceptional - attentive, detail-oriented, and they know every parent by name. It boasts the best outdoor space in the area, nestled in woodland and complete with its own forest school. All meals are freshly prepared on site by a dedicated chef. Simply put, no other nursery in Cheadle compares.
Read on GoogleThe best nursery we could have hoped for and the best in the area by a mile. Our children have been so happy there, the staff are excellent and go the extra mile.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Elm Cottage Nursery at Brookfield. See all on Google Maps
Most recent inspection
20 December 2022
Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.
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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more