Unique educational institution in Manchester

“I have done Act4TV since I was 11 years old. Since coming back as an adult I love it just as much as I did back then! The classes are unique and energetic and really helpful! Joe gives some brilliant advice that has helped me an awful lot. I’d recommend Act4TV to anyone :)”

“Very, very good venue. The quayside theatre is very small and intimate, but holds a good crowd. We were there to see the "Ideal" stage show (which was absolutely brilliant) and it was a great trip. Two minor issues were that it was unclear when the doors would open, leaving quite a few people like us standing outside in rain and wind, which was not Ideal (see what I did there) Also the toilet roll dispensers are utterly dreadful, where you have to try and pull it out of a very tight opening and it invariably tears close to the holder. You know the ones I'm talking about... The rosé wine is delightful...”

“Well designed building. Large open spaces inside of ground floor atrium with large lecture theaters. Smaller rooms around upper floors. Many with no windows may feel more constrained. Well planned external space and campus with a short walk to main campus.”

“i attended the ‘hello darling’ queer party here. everything from the security to the ticket attendees and the actual event itself was a 10/10 experience. i’ve been to the venue before and i will definitely go back! side note. i would recommend ear plugs as it’s a small venue it’s very loud :)”

“Great place to be . Artiste were brilliant last night. Ha ha and we won bingo.”

“Finally, a place where my son can be who he wants to be. He loves attending and exploring the coding assignments, the experiments and generally having fun. The staff are genuinely passionate about what they do and Will loves being a part of that.”

“When investigating local childcare options for our daughter, we were stuck between the homely setting of a childminder and the consistency of a nursery - to us Swan’s offered the best of both worlds... The setting As a small setting it has a real family feel and impressed us from the outset with Nicola (Nursery Manager) showing real pride in touring us. There are three rooms: Baby, Tweenies and Pre-School and all are well loved and maintained with changing seasonal displays, toys and activities. There is an outdoor garden area that offers great stimulation - it isn't the largest but they do make great use of it! Overall, it's an inclusive and diverse community atmosphere. The staff All of the staff are excellent and the majority are extremely experienced. Management have been in place 20+ years and Toni in the baby room has been at Swan's for years & years (so many, I forget!) - I found this reassuring when our daughter first started at 9 months old. The staff have remained consistent throughout our daughter’s 3 years at Swan’s with only a small, natural turnover - always a good sign! The staff are friendly, caring and vigilant and work hard to bond with the children and encourage development on an individual basis. They seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs and workplace. Many of the staff also have their own children (not that this matters but some may find it comforting to know.) Ofsted Swans is rated Ofsted 'Good with Outstanding features' (personal development being one area they excel at.) It’s one of the higher rated Ofsted nurseries in the Prestwich area but often seems to get overlooked - I'm never quite sure why! It's a hidden gem. Rates, funding and inclusions Contact the nursery for the latest rates and funding info - all childcare is expensive but I remember it being one of the more reasonable rates in the area! Provisions includes breakfast, lunch and a light tea at around 4pm. Nappies, wipes and suncream are included for comparison purposes. Core hours Included in the standard daily payment rate is drop-off from 08.00am and collection by 5.30pm. You can pay a small fee extra to drop-off earlier (from 7.30am) and collect later (by 6pm.) Location & Parking Swans is located on Whittaker Lane - just 3 minutes walk from the Heaton Park metrolink stop. There is on-street parking behind the nursery on Earl Street - ideal for drop off & pick up, you will never find yourself fighting for a spot. App & tracking Swans uses the Learning Journals app to detail your child's day, communications and events. Up until pre-school - sleep, food intake, toileting and development milestones are all logged on the app along with regular pictures and videos of what your kiddo has been doing during the nursery day. Accidents/Incidents are also recorded via the app. Extracurricular activities My daughter has enjoyed regular seasonal walks/trips to Heaton Park, Stretch & Grow exercise classes (and for a very small fee extra) externally provided French lessons. Pre-school trips have been to Smithill's Farm and the Transport museum. Swans also put on an amazing graduation ceremony - it was above and beyond expectation with some lovely small take-home keepsakes. Other features There is secure on-site pram parking within the nursery boundary for those who need it. Summary We've been extremely happy with our experience of Swans for 3+ years. If we were to have any more children there is no doubt that I'd be popping my name down on the waiting list ASAP. Plus, both of my daughter’s Grandmas are retired primary school teachers and both have independently commented on how good her development has been (and now she's older - her readiness for school) crediting it largely to Swans and its staff. A huge thanks to Nicola, Emma, Joanne, Toni, Sana, Rachel, Leona, Kira and Ciara - you all do an amazing job and we’ll miss you & the amazing environment you work so hard to create on a daily basis.”

“An excellent opportunity to teach our children their mother tongue and meet new friends.”

“Its a beautiful place to go my kid love he always comes back and tells me the great things he has done I would recommend it for kid's who need extra help in certain areas”

“Excellent. My optician advised me to go to the eye hospital following an eye injury. All the staff were lovely and professional. I was triaged very quickly. My injury was treated and I was on my way home within an hour and a half. Glad I went to the eye hospital and no my local a&e.”

“Very nice, spacious classes and of course a green building.”

“An absolutely amazing dance class. Very professional and my daughter has the best time ever! Fantastic shows as well”

“Amazing staff and children are looked after well”

“Been living at Globe House for almost a year now and feel very at home. The apartment is finished to a high standard and building facilities are fantastic - who doesn’t want to unwind in a spa! The management team are brilliant, nothing is ever too much trouble and any problems are solved straight away. Additionally, they are all so friendly and it’s lovely to pop by for a chat. Location is great, really easy to pop into the city and a very short walk to the train station. I would highly recommend living here!”

“The Yaqadoodle team have been amazing at helping us and our son transition into their setting! It's a lovely and cozy place where they've gotten to know our boy really well. He has grown so much much in the months that he's been there!”

“My daughter has been attending the juniors class for a year and absolutely adores it. She has grown in confidence indeed her class teacher mentioned it at parents evening. The tutors are fabulous . I can thoroughly recommend First Act”

“A star kids Nursery is amazing, I could not be more happier with this nursery. The staff go out their way in the best interest of your child. A star is a welcoming warming nursery, a great place for your child to grow and develop. Well done Neelam for being so amazing with the kids.”

“In 2015, after visiting 10 nurseries for our daughter we chose Canterbury Rd Day Nursery and we were very happy with our decision. The rooms, staff, play areas and management were and are excellent. Each day you receive a 'report' of what your child has done and now there is the online portal Capture where you see pictures and updates about your child plus you can upload your own too. There are 2 cooks that deliver healthy and varied meals with seasonal changes. There are regular events held at the nursery or local hall and parents evening twice a year. My daughter loved it there and now so does my son. If you are looking for a nursery for your child then I would highly recommend choosing Canterbury Rd.”

“I cannot recommend Educare enough. From Becky, the manager, to each and every one of my son's key workers throughout the three years he has been there (Kirsty, Nicola, Emy, Alicia, Lizzie, Amy, Elena), I have always felt he is in the safest hands. Every member of staff is just the loveliest - they put tonnes of effort into the activities they plan, and parents are kept up to date with progress and pictures. Nothing is ever too much, even when I call up in the middle of the day because "he just seemed a bit sad this morning and I wanted to check whether he's cheered up and now having a good day!". They don't just give it lip service, they keep me on the line as they go to check on him, and will pass me on to his key worker if a bigger update is needed. Any time he's had a bump or fall (he's a kid, it's going to happen!), it's been recorded, and I've had a detailed account of exactly how it came about - which ALWAYS matches up to my son's description of the event, too. I really do love all the staff here, they provide a really personal touch which makes the world of difference. And to have your kid come home and say their key worker is their BEST FRIEND is the most heartwarming thing ever. He feels safe, and so do I.”

“My Dog had an amazing time here, lovely big secure open space in a very secure field. The Trainers are amazing, they know there stuff, my dog is such a calm boy now. There are so many opportunities to choose from Shows, fun days, photography shoots, events, professional trainer that come to the farm, social walks, group training sessions at all levels and agility, hoopers etc the list goes on and on. Well worth a visit”