Thrive Day Nursery Rake Lane
124 Rake Lane
Swinton
Greater Manchester
M27 8RH
Your local nursery in Swinton, Salford
Thrive Rake Lane is an all-inclusive nursery situated in the heart of Clifton, close to Newtown, Silverdale, Pendlebury, and the scenic Drinkwater Park Nature Reserve. We provide childcare for children from 3 months to 5 years of age. Our sessions run from 7.30am–6pm, with early drop-off from 7am available.
Our property is a large, detached building set in its own grounds. It has been refurbished to retain the original features and character of the former public house, while creating a bright and attractive environment with abundant space for learning. Our nursery is easily accessible from the M60 and A666, with convenient bus and train links nearby, making us an ideal option for commuters. We also have our own car park, providing easy drop-off and collection for you and your family
Our unique features
9 months –5-year-olds funded places available, Flexible Sessions available
Ofsted Outstanding Nursery
All-inclusive childcare
Contact our nursery team
124 Rake Lane
Swinton
Greater Manchester
M27 8RH
- Monday 7:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday 7:00 – 18:00
- Wednesday 7:00 – 18:00
- Thursday 7:00 – 18:00
- Friday 7:00 – 18:00
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
Meet the managers
Sarah Fisher
Nursery Manager
Dawn Dore
Deputy Manager
How to find us
Get directions
Our Nursery Brochure
We will guide you through every step of your childcare journey and help you discover everything you need to know about our nursery. Come and join our family of nurseries across the UK. If you have any questions or enquiries, please feel free to contact us.
Alternatively, why not book a personal tour of our nursery where one of our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Day Nurseries Reviews
Life at Thrive Rake Lane
Outdoor play, how we teach, keeping you in touch and keeping your child safe.
Outdoor Discovery: Growing, Learning, and Playing in Nature
We love to get outside at Thrive Rake Lane! Each of our 4 rooms has its own separate inviting outside space, all appropriately set up for their age groups. All of our outdoor areas provide children with opportunities to get fresh air and have fun in a safe and secure environment.
The children love playing in our gardens which offer a variety of activities including mud kitchens, water play and many more resources to promote safe and fun outdoor play. As well as access to our fabulous outdoor play areas, children of all ages enjoy regular walks in the local area. Our youngest children are often seen out in our double buggies enjoying the fresh air, sights and sounds of the local community.
We use high-visibility vests to keep children safe when out on trips away from the nursery. It is our belief that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. For this reason, we ask parents to provide their children with appropriate clothing for all types of weather.
We are committed to being an environmentally friendly nursery, making changes wherever we can in order to make the world a cleaner place! Thrive Rake Lane is a registered ECO-Nursery and is committed to teaching our children about their environment and the effect we have on it in our day to day lives.
- Outdoor play every day
- Out in all weathers
- Exploring nature
- Safe, secure spaces
Our Approach to Education at Thrive Rake Lane
Our curriculum includes a Statutory framework for the Early Years foundation stage that offer hands-on approaches to encourage the skills your child will need in the nursery and beyond:
- Mathematics: Integrating numbers into real-life routines
- Schematic Play: Quality learning environment providing the potential for children’s creativity skills and allowing them to follow their own interests confidently
- Listening, Attention and Speaking: Teaching children to express their ideas and feelings about their experiences using complete sentences
- Personal, Social and Emotional Education
- Birth to 5 Matters Learning and Development Framework
- STEM Activities: Building and problem solving using science, technology, engineering, and math
- Ensuring children are physically active from birth and meet the Chief Medical Officers (2019) guidelines of a minimum of 3 hours per day
- Learning through play
- Talking and listening
- Hands-on activities
- Active every day
A Connected Nursery Experience for Parents
We know how important it is for parents to stay involved in their child’s nursery journey. That’s why we use the ParentZone app, giving you real-time updates, photos and insights into your little one’s day, all in one secure place.
Regular updates
Nursery newsletters, announcements and invitations to events.
Daily moments
Photos and videos of your child's day, from learning adventures to playful discoveries.
Instant notifications
Real-time updates on your child's progress, mealtimes and important nursery messages.
Nursery calendar
Term dates, planned activities and special events at a glance.
Learning journey
Your child's development through progress reports and key milestones.
Two-way messaging
Message our nursery team to ask questions, share updates and stay connected.
We want you to always feel part of your child’s world, wherever you are.
- ParentZone app
- Daily photos and updates
- Learning journey
- Message the team
Safety and Safeguarding at Thrive Childcare
We know that trusting someone else with your child is a huge step. That’s why safeguarding sits at the heart of everything we do, and why we go above and beyond to keep our nursery a safe, secure and happy place.
Rigorous, safer recruitment
Every member of our team completes an enhanced criminal record and background check through the appropriate national vetting scheme, plus thorough reference checks, before they ever work with children. All staff receive regular, up-to-date training in child protection and safeguarding.
Secure and monitored
Our nursery has a secure door entry system, so only authorised parents and staff can enter the building. We follow strict collection procedures: your child will never be released to anyone unknown to us without your prior authorisation and a secure password.
Paediatric first aid
A high proportion of our team are trained in paediatric first aid, going beyond the minimum our regulator requires. Whether your child is playing in the garden or napping in the baby room, they are always in safe hands.
- Safer recruitment
- Secure building
- Safe collection
- First aid trained team
Our Nursery Fees and Funding
We can offer flexible booking patterns and a range of funding options, including government funded childcare. To find out more information on pricing and availability, please request a call back and we will be in touch shortly.
Our fees include:
- Quality Early Years Care and Education
- Healthy, well balanced menu for all children
- Access to a wide range of quality resources and equipment
- E-Learning Journals and Interactive App
- Monthly newsletters and parent evenings
- Free Settling in Sessions
- Nappies, wipes & a variety of milk
*Terms and conditions apply to our funding options. Contact us for more information.
Take a Look Inside Our Nursery
Most Enjoyed Activities at Our Nursery
Our nurseries offer a wide range of nursery activities and extras to enrich every child’s experience at nursery and to support busy parents.
Nursery Library
We believe that reading should be lots of fun, so we run a mini-library service to encourage children to share their favourite stories with their parents, and to help busy parents keep the bookshelf engaging at home! Our nurseries organise regular library visits as part of the learning process.
Excellent Resources
Our nurseries provide an extensive range of resources to encourage children to learn through play. We favour naturalistic learning resources and make fantastic use of our outdoor equipment, promoting free-flow and child-led learning.
Fundraising Activities
Taking part in fundraising activities helps children to learn about others that are less fortunate than themselves and to understand how we can help them. Fundraising events are good fun and are a great way to bring children, families and communities together. Some of the fundraisers we have taken part in are: sponsored toddles, superhero days, baking cakes to sell and garden parties. Read about our Red Nose Day 2022 events here.
Graduations
We celebrate the big move to primary school with a special graduation ceremony each year – caps, gowns, the works!
Heuristic Play
We encourage Heuristic Play with our 1–2-year-olds, embracing every child’s natural curiosity. This involves offering children a range of different objects and receptacles with which they are encouraged to play freely without adult instruction.
Planting and Growing
We make use of our wonderful outdoor spaces and forest areas by encouraging children at our nurseries and Out of School Care clubs to plant, grow and tend to fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs throughout the year.
Settling-In Sessions
Our nurseries offer free settling-in sessions. Parents can bring their child for a couple of hours first, gradually introducing the child to a new environment. Settling-in sessions are aimed at helping your child to adapt to their new surroundings and become more familiar with the staff and other children.
E-Learning Journals / Parent Zone App
Our E-Learning journals and Parent Zone app allow you to see your child’s activities at nursery with the click of a button. Staff upload images and notes about your child’s participation in activities at nursery for you to access wherever you are. Our nursery tablets offer exciting and stimulating learning experiences tailored to challenge and engage little ones.
The Daily Mile
Daily Mile is physical activity and health and well-being in a social, outdoors context. It is not active play, physical education or outdoor learning, although participating in The Daily Mile can encourage curiosity and interest in outdoor environments in keeping with wider outdoor learning opportunities. The main goal is to increase daily activity.
Food & Nutrition: Building Healthy Habits
Here at Thrive Rake Lane, we have our very own qualified Nursery Chef who creates nutritionally balanced 4 week rolling menus.
Our menus are designed to give your little one the very best start in life. We make this possible by supplying our children with home-cooked nutritional food, bursting with fresh fruit and vegetables and all the essential ingredients necessary for healthy physical and mental development. Whenever possible, we source our food locally and organically, including seasonal vegetables and fruit into our menus. Our children have a choice of milk or water to drink throughout the day.
Growing Our Own Vegetables
Our children have opportunities to excel as nursery gardeners with their very own vegetable patch!
Cooking and Baking Activities
Our children have opportunities to work with our Nursery Chef through weekly cooking and baking activities.
Vegetarian and Vegan
We are happy to cater for all preferences including Vegeterian and Vegan.
Dairy-Free Milk
We offer a variety of milk including animal and plant based milks. Speak to our Nursery Chef regarding your preference.
Dietary Requirements
We are happy to cater for a whole range of dietary/religious/cultural requirements. Please speak to our Nursery Chef for more information.
No Added Sugar or Salt
We do not add additional salt or sugar. Where possible we purchase products with reduced salt and lower sugar.
Allergies and First Aid
Our staff are trained in First Aid and the team are experienced in catering for allergies. You are more than welcome to meet with a member of our team to discuss your requirements.
Caring for Every Stage: From Babies to Pre-Schoolers
Baby Room (0-2 years)
Nurturing Beginnings
Our baby room provides a calm, safe, and stimulating environment where our babies can explore, discover, and develop at their own pace. With a strong focus on sensory play, close one-to-one care, and gentle routines, we create a loving space where babies feel secure, happy, and encouraged to take their first steps in learning.
Toddler Room (2-3 years)
Exploring and Growing
At this curious and energetic stage, toddlers thrive in a space designed for discovery, movement, and social interaction. Through hands-on activities, messy play, early language development, and guided exploration, we nurture independence while ensuring children feel supported in their growing confidence and abilities.
Pre-School Room (3-5 years)
Ready for Big Adventures
As children prepare for their next steps into school life, our pre-school room offers a structured yet playful approach to learning. With a mix of phonics, numeracy, creative expression, and problem-solving activities, we build essential skills while encouraging curiosity, teamwork, and self-confidence, ensuring a smooth transition to reception.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer part-time or flexible sessions for children?
Yes we do, please don’t hesitate to ask your nursery manager what is available in your nursery
How do you handle first aid or medical emergencies?
Our staff teams are qualified in paediatric first aid and refresh their knowledge on a regular basis, this is over and above regulatory minimum requirements
What is your settling-in process for new children?
We take an individualised approach to setting our children into our nursery environments, as a minimum we offer three settle sessions to allow children to gain familiarity and then our nursery teams will work with you to decide if more sessions are required
How do you communicate with parents about their child’s progress?
We have a fantastic app where you can view your child’s progress and daily routines. We also hold regular parents evenings and you can request a meeting at any time with your child’s key person to discuss your child’s individual needs
Are there any additional costs, such as for trips or special activities?
This is nursery dependent and will be explained on your personal tour
Do you offer sibling discounts or loyalty programs?
No
Do you provide care for children with special educational needs (SEN/ASN)?
Yes and we work together in partnership with you, external agencies and the local authority throughout your time with us to support you and your child to reach the very best outcomes
What makes your nursery stand out from others in the area?
Our Thrive ethos and values are unique to us and set us apart from the rest
What should I pack in my child’s bag for nursery?
A spare set of clothes are a must, also any comforters your child may need, apart from that we provide the rest!
Should I pack nappies and wipes, or are they provided?
No, they are provided
What is the process for dropping off and picking up my child?
This is nursery dependent as some opening and closing times do differ, ask your nursery manager to clarify. All of our nurseries endeavour to make this transition as smooth as possible for you and your child
What happens if I am late to pick up my child?
We understand that on occasion this can be inevitable, we do issue a late charge if lateness becomes an ongoing issue and will work with you to find a solution
What should I do if my child has trouble adjusting to nursery?
Trust us and trust in the process, we are here to help and advise so please reach out if you are concerned your child isn’t settling, we can work together to help the separation become easier over time
Do I need to provide suncream or outdoor clothing, such as rain boots?
This is nursery specific again however all of our sites provide suncream, you are welcome to provide your own if your child is sensitive to the suncream we provide
Can I change my child’s schedule once it has been agreed?
Yes you can, we will need a months written notice to reduce sessions, if its an increase and we have availability it can in most cases be arranged sooner. You can also book extra sessions when you need them again dependent on availability We regularly offer discounted extra sessions so do look out for those discounts in our nurseries
Take a
personal tour of our nursery
We will guide you through every step to get the most out of our nurseries. Join our family and pay us a visit by completing the contact us form.
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Thrive Rake Lane