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We've compiled a list of popular questions families ask at nursery visits to help you when deciding which nursery to choose for your child's early years education.
Why choose Partou Storytimes Day Nursery & Pre-School in Atherton?
At Partou Storytimes Day Nursery & Pre-School, children are known, not just looked after. Families come to us from across Atherton and often stay for years, drawn by the warmth of the team, the relationships their children build, and a feeling that’s hard to put into words but easy to see the moment you walk through the door.
Our nursery takes its name from the storybook theme woven throughout our rooms, and it’s that same spirit of imagination and curiosity that shapes how we approach early years learning every day. Each age group has its own dedicated space, filled with carefully chosen resources that invite children to explore, create, and develop at their own pace. We’re proud to have won the Indoor Learning Environment of the Year award at the National NMT Nursery Awards in 2024, recognition that our spaces aren’t just well-resourced, but thoughtfully designed to inspire.
Learning here is child-led, which means we follow each child’s interests and build on what matters to them in line with their developmental needs. That approach gives children ownership of their learning and helps them grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence; skills that stay with them long after they leave us. Our team invests in knowing each child well, and the relationships they build are one of the things families comment on most. You’ll see this in our reviews: children who look forward to coming in, key workers who know exactly what a child needs, and families who feel like part of our community.
As well as strong bonds with children, our nursery team values great partnerships with families to support children to thrive in their early years education. We priortise continued communication and welcome families in for stay and play sessions as well as special celebrations to help you stay connected to your child’s life at nursery.
Our secure outdoor spaces are used throughout the year, giving children the freedom to be physical, adventurous, and imaginative in the fresh air. Physical play supports motor development, builds confidence, and offers children a different kind of learning that complements everything happening inside. Freshly prepared meals from our seasonal menu mean children are well nourished, and mealtimes become part of the learning day: a time to try new things, develop independence, and enjoy food together.
We celebrate cultural events and festivals throughout the year, helping children develop an understanding of the diverse world around them from the very beginning. Our community links go further than the nursery gates too: we go on regular visits to a local care home, giving children the opportunity to build meaningful relationships across generations, develop their social skills, and take part in shared experiences with residents. Local walks and visits help children feel connected to their neighbourhood and broaden their understanding of the world beyond the nursery.
Our dedicated school readiness programme supports children to make the transition to “big” school with confidence. We work on the independence, communication, and social skills children need to settle quickly and thrive in a primary school environment, and our strong links with local schools mean that move feels familiar rather than daunting.
Our nursery team includes many long-standing practitioners who have chosen to build their careers here, and that continuity matters. When children see familiar faces every day, it builds the security they need to ask questions and grow. We invest in ongoing training and professional development so our practice stays current, and so every family can feel confident that their child is being cared for by a well-qualified team who have a great understanding of the foundations and developments in early years education.
If you’re looking for a nursery in Atherton where your child will be known, valued, and given every opportunity to flourish, we’d love to show you why Partou Storytimes Day Nursery & Pre-School is a great fit for your family.
Facilities
Rooms filled with fun and inspiring educational resources which develop the essential skills your child needs
Stimulating environments and cosy dens, designed with babies and toddlers in mind
Healthy and delicious meals from our seasonal menu, freshly prepared at the nursery
A fantastic, large outdoor area which offers play opportunities all year round
Established, highly qualified staff with First Aid Certificates and DBS checks
Nursery fees
| Full-day (2 sessions) |
Weekly rate | Early drop off session | Morning session | Afternoon session | |
| Session time | 8.00am-6.00pm | 8.00am-6.00pm daily | 7.30am-8.00am | 8.00am-1.00pm | 1.00pm-6.00pm |
| Care | £56.25 | £253.13 | £4.25 | £33.75 | £33.75 |
| Meals & snacks | £9.05 | £45.25 | £5.15 | £3.90 | |
| Consumables | £2.95 | £14.75 | £1.70 | £1.25 | |
| Total | £68.25 | £313.13 | £40.60 | £38.90 |
Upon registration, you will be asked to pay a £75 registration fee (non-refundable) or a £75 registration deposit to reserve your child’s nursery place (see terms and conditions for eligibility).
What’s included in our fees?
Our full fees are clearly broken down into care, meals & snacks and consumables fees for full transparency.
Care fees include: trained, qualified team members taking care of your child, regular updates about your child and their progress at nursery, a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities tailored to the needs of your child, and use of the nursery building facilities.
Meals & snacks fees cover the cost of all food and drinks whilst your child is in our care. Meal and snack times are a very important part of Partou nursery life, learn more about how we make food and nutrition enjoyable and educational for children in our care.
Consumables include; important daily care items needed such as nappies, wet wipes and sun cream.
Discounts
Only one discount can be applied at any time:
- 5% discount for eldest child for siblings.
- 5% discount for Blue Light Card holders.
Other key information
- We’re closed on Bank Holidays.
- We close at 4pm on Christmas Eve.
- We’re closed between Christmas and New Year.
- Charges apply across 51 weeks of the year, including Bank Holidays.
Funded childcare
Partou Storytimes Day Nursery & Pre-School is proud to offer funded childcare places
Funded childcare is a government incentive fulfilled by Local Authorities which aims to provide financial support for eligible families accessing childcare at an OFSTED registered setting. Partou Storytimes Day Nursery & Pre-School work with Wigan Local Authority to apply childcare funding for eligible families.
Funding typically covers 15 or 30 hours per week for the 38 term weeks of the year across a maximum of 10 hours a day which will be applied in different ways depending how many weeks of the year your child is in childcare:
- Children who are in year-round childcare will receive “stretched” funding. This means that their 15/30 hours over 38 weeks will be stretched over 51 weeks of the year so children accessing year round childcare at Partou Storytimes will receive 11.17/22.35 hours of funded childcare per week.
- Children who have term-time only childcare places will receive 15/30 hours funding per week over 38 weeks of the year. Term-time only places are limited and are subject to availability.
Government funding for childcare only applies to the care fee (as described above). Meals & snacks and consumables fees are fully chargeable for all sessions including funded.
Many families are eligible for government funded childcare, see our childcare funding guide for more information.
Term duration and dates
The 2025/2026 terms dates set by Wigan for Partou Storytimes Day Nursery & Pre-School are below so you can see which term dates funding is applicable for:
|
|
Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term |
| Term Duration | 14 Weeks | 11 Weeks | 13 Weeks |
| 1st Half Term Dates | 8th Sept – 24th Oct | 5th Jan – 13th Feb | 13th April – 22nd May |
| 2nd Half Term Dates | 3rd Nov – 19th Dec | 23rd Feb – 27th March | 1st June – 17th July |
Please note that when you access funding in the term can impact the hours you are eligible for within that term period.
Our team will be able to assist you with any funding and term questions you may have.
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Storytimes
Day Nursery
& Pre-school
01942 889720
Mon - Fri, 7.30am to 6.00pm (excl. bank holidays)
68 Leigh Road, Atherton, Manchester, M46 0PA
View on map
What do families say about Partou Storytimes Day Nursery & Pre-School in Atherton?
Overall rating
93%
6%
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1%
Imogen S
30 March 2026
I was really anxious about returning to work, but this nursery has made the transition so much easier. From the beginning, I've always felt completely comfortable leaving my child in their care. The staff truly go above and beyond, creating a warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe and h...
Sophie P
14 February 2026
Our daughter started in January and has settled in so well. The team were amazing with her settling in sessions and put our minds at ease. We couldn't ask for a better team to look after her. They update us throughout the day and our daughter has a brilliant relationship with her key worker.
L M
10 February 2026
Our daughter started in September 2025. Since the start she has progressed socially and her language ability has grown quickly. She loves her staff, and as parents we are so happy and content. From the very beginning we were made to feel comfortable and knew our daughter would feel safe and grow in c...
Mike R
07 February 2026
Our daughter has been here now for around 10 months, she absolutely loves it. The staff have always been great, the app updates are good and we have never had a problem. Wouldn't go anywhere else.
Catherine H
07 February 2026
My daughter is in pre-school here and has been here since she was a baby. My other two children also used to come here. All the staff are lovely and very hardworking and my daughter loves coming here Monday-Friday. She has a brilliant relationship with the staff and it feels like home from home.
Lindsay S
03 December 2025
Absolutely love Storytimes nursery. My son has been going since he was 11 months old and throughout each room he has had consistent staff who genuinely care about the children. He has not long moved into pre school and the staff there have been absolutely amazing with him. Special thank you to Ellie ...
Z T
09 September 2025
We have been coming to story times for 4 years and it's been amazing. my son has come on leaps and bounds. Can't thank the amazing staff enough.
Kim D
06 September 2025
My son has attended Storytimes Nursery for 3 and a half years now - and I can honestly say that the team that worked with him in each room have been amazing. Each milestone he has hit and every learning experience he has thrived in have all been shared and supported by the storytimes team. A specia...
Rosie A
06 September 2025
We are so grateful for the incredible care Sophie has received in the baby room. Having had Ellie attend in the past, we already knew the high standard of care provided, but the ladies in the baby room have exceeded our expectations! The staff are warm, attentive, knowledgeable and genuinely caring. ...
Rebecca H
03 September 2025
Poppy has settle really well into preschool well into preschool with Lauren and Chloe both made excellent bonds with peers and staff. Poppy looks forward to coming in seeing her friends. I'm excited to start Oakley in September.
Laura H
03 September 2025
My child loves their time at nursery! Always seems so happy when I collect them. The staff are fantastic and they always talk about them at home which is lovely to hear. The support my child's development will and communicate effectively with me.
L R
03 September 2025
My son has been at Storytimes for 3 months now and the change in him has been outstanding. My son has gone from not speaking much to being able to count 1-20 and do his alphabet at the age of 2. The staff are amazing and so accommodating. They go above and beyond. They follow safeguarding to a tea an...
Claire H
03 September 2025
We are very new to Storytimes nursery (2 months in) my granddaughter has settled in very well with the lovely staff who are very welcoming and friendly with a fun, positive warm environment provided various activities to learn and explore. My granddaughter loves coming to nursery after attending anot...
N H
03 September 2025
The team at Storytimes has been wonderfully supportive over the two years my little one has been there. The activities on offer, the connection and attention provided all show how passionate the team are at ensuring my child grows and develops in the best way. If there have been any issues with my ch...
Melissa H
03 September 2025
Storytimes is an amazing nursery. You can really tell just how much the staff care about the children. My daughter is so so happy there and has developed such a close bond with the staff. The manager is amazing and so friendly and approachable. The manager is so passionate about the care of the chil...
Why Partou?
For us at Partou, childcare isn’t just a job, it’s a journey – one where every child leads us in a unique new direction.
As part of the Netherlands’ largest childcare group, we’ve access to world-leading expertise in learning and development, so you can be confident your child will benefit from an experience as unique as they are.
Of course, care is as much about empathy as education, and ours is a child-led approach that emphasises building confidence and curiosity – so that every child in our care has the freedom to flourish.
Reassurance for you and your little one
Care
We’re more than just a team; we’re a close community driven by our passion for childcare, and our commitment to each individual child’s development. We know that by working together, we’re stronger.
Compassion
In our community, compassion isn’t just a word; it’s our way of life. By embracing our differences, we make our community more diverse and vibrant. We build strong, supportive relationships with the children and each other, based on trust and understanding.
Continuous learning
We believe strongly in development, for the children in our care and for ourselves. Through continuous learning, we help our team and our children reach their full potential. Together, we make a positive impact, in our communities and across wider society.
Helpful information for your nursery search
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