Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Early Steps Daycare

Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(8 parent reviews) ·47 Hobsons Place, Woodseer Street, London, E1 5HH · Tower Hamlets
Number of places
32 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2026
Local authority
Tower Hamlets

About this day nursery

The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. The latest Ofsted inspection, on 25 February 2026, rated the nursery as Inadequate.

The report highlighted several areas for improvement, particularly regarding leadership and management, the curriculum, and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The outdoor learning environment was noted to be poorly set up, offering limited play opportunities.

Despite these challenges, parents have found the communication reassuring and describe the staff as approachable and friendly. The nursery successfully meets safeguarding standards, ensuring that leaders and staff are responsible for governance and oversight, and safeguarding concerns are actively identified and managed.

They are working to strengthen staff interactions and curriculum implementation, especially language-rich teaching.

Our ethos

Early Steps Daycare's pedagogical approach is grounded in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, integrating structured learning with playful discovery to foster curiosity and problem-solving. They are committed to providing a play-based environment that supports children's holistic development, encouraging engagement, exploration, and discovery.

What it's like

Leadership and management are weak, resulting in significant weaknesses in the overall quality of provision. Leaders do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities, compromising children's safety and preventing them from benefiting from quality learning experiences. The curriculum is not ambitious, staff lack understanding of how young children learn, and activities are poorly planned. Children arrive happily and move into familiar routines with confidence. Staff and leaders greet families warmly at the door, using the information parents share to shape children's day. Children feel secure and form trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. Overall, children experience a balanced blend of play and learning.

Weak leadershipPoor outdoor provisionInadequate SEND supportSafeguarding standards metEYFS curriculumParent communication praised

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

Tax-Free Childcare
  • Non-refundable registration fee£55 / session
  • Meals per session (funded placements)£3 / session
  • Meals per full day (funded placements)£4 / day
  • Meals per session (private funding)£3 / session
  • Meals per full day (private funding)£4 / day

Key facts

Opening hours

8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

Age range

9 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Feb 2026

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Early Steps Daycare

Last inspected 25 February 2026

Actions the provider must take

  • ensure that leaders receive effective support, coaching and training to fully understand their roles and responsibilities by 06/10/2025
  • make sure that procedures are in place to monitor the continued suitability of all adults working on the premises by 06/10/2025
  • ensure that children with allergies are not at risk of being exposed to their allergen/s by 06/10/2025
  • develop a curriculum that is ambitious for all children, and ensure that staff understand how to monitor children's progress and identify appropriate next steps in their learning and development by 06/10/2025
  • ensure that staff understand how to plan for engaging and meaningful activities and learning experiences that build upon what children already know and can do by 06/10/2025
  • provide staff with professional development opportunities to improve their understanding of how young children learn, particularly to support children's communication and language skills by 06/10/2025
  • provide opportunities for children to develop their independence skills, particularly during key routines, such as mealtimes by 06/10/2025
  • ensure that arrangements are in place to include children with SEND and support them to make good or better progress from their individual starting points by 06/10/2025
  • embed secure and predictable routines and ensure that these are communicated effectively with children by 06/10/2025
  • strengthen the key-person system to ensure that learning and care is tailored to meet individual needs, and to support children to feel settled and secure by 06/10/2025
  • make sure that staff share the same expectations of children's behaviour and communicate these consistently with children by 06/10/2025
  • ensure that parents receive timely information about their children's learning and development, including any concerns by 06/10/2025

What it's like to attend

Leadership and management are weak, resulting in significant weaknesses in the overall quality of provision. Leaders do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities, compromising children's safety and preventing them from benefiting from quality learning experiences. The curriculum is not ambitious, staff lack understanding of how young children learn, and activities are poorly planned. Children arrive happily and move into familiar routines with confidence. Staff and leaders greet families warmly at the door, using the information parents share to shape children's day. Children feel secure and form trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. Overall, children experience a balanced blend of play and learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Safeguarding standards are met.
  • Leaders and staff collaborate to create a positive, inclusive and respectful setting.
  • Leaders ensure children's welfare and well-being are promoted well.
  • Children develop physical skills with opportunities for both small and large muscles.
  • Children become increasingly independent, confident and ready for their next stage of education.
  • Parents say they feel informed and supported to continue learning at home.
  • Children are settled and supported to develop confidence, independence and age-appropriate knowledge and skills.
  • Children show kindness and consideration towards one another.

Areas to develop

  • 1Strengthen staff's interactions to extend children's communication, vocabulary and thinking across routines and play.
  • 2Sharpen oversight and target professional development to secure consistent curriculum implementation, especially language-rich teaching.
Inspection #10418150 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff do not share high enough expectations of what children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can achieve. Leaders do not secure support quickly enough for these children, and there are limited strategies in place to meet their needs. Staff do not include or support children with SEND effectively. However, leaders do use additional funding thoughtfully for targeted time and resources for children with SEND, and staff receive training to adapt routines and experiences responsively.

Outdoor space

Outdoor areas are poorly set up and provide limited opportunities for children to learn through play, hindering the development of positive attitudes to learning. Children do, however, explore activities outside with enthusiasm, riding wheeled toys and climbing and playing in the sand.

EAL / language support

Staff make appropriate adaptations for English an additional language children, for example, by simplifying instructions, repeating new vocabulary and using visual supports. They also use familiar home language words and visual systems, including Makaton signs, to support children's language and communication development.

Parent Reviews of Early Steps Daycare

5.0
(8)
Diana Ludbarza
10 months ago

We honestly can’t thank the team at Early Steps Daycare enough. Every single member of staff has been absolutely amazing from day one. Our daughter Alina has been so well cared for, supported, and encouraged throughout her time there—it’s clear how much love and effort they put into everything they do. She has absolutely loved her time at the nursery and has grown in so many ways thanks to the nurturing, fun, and safe environment they provide. It’s been such a joy to see her come home happy, excited, and full of stories about her day. Leaving is bittersweet, as she’ll really miss all the lovely staff and friends she’s made, but we know this has been the perfect start to her school journey. We’ll always be grateful to Early Steps for giving her such a positive and happy beginning. Thank you all so much—you truly are amazing! Would definitely recommend!

Read on Google
karim ovi
a year ago

"My daughter previously attended a different nursery that was very popular and busy. Unfortunately, they had very little time to give her the extra attention she needed compared to other kids. Early Steps Daycare, under Mr. Aqeel's care, has met her needs in every way. She has developed significantly since joining this nursery. The staff took the time to sit with her and teach her how to eat with her hands. This nursery also offers all the sensory play activities that my daughter loves. She will miss this nursery a lot. May God bless Mr. Aqeel and his business."

Read on Google
Junaid Shaikh
2 years ago

Early Steps Daycare provides a nurturing environment for young children, emphasizing both learning and play. The dedicated staff and well-rounded curriculum make it a reliable choice for parents seeking a supportive and enriching early childhood education experience.

Read on Google
Green stitch
2 years ago

Attended the open day yesterday. The owners are very passionate about this setting. They were patient in answering my questions and put me at ease. Looking forward to sending my children here.

Read on Google
Mai An
2 years ago

I had the opportunity to visit their opening day a few weeks ago. The owners, who are loving parents, are very passionate about their daycare.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Early Steps Daycare. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: September 2025

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Inadequate). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • December 2025Inadequate
  • September 2025Inadequate

Frequently asked about Early Steps Daycare

Nearby day nurseries in London

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Early Steps Daycare.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

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