Food
All food freshly prepared and cooked in-house; includes morning snack, lunch, tea, afternoon snack, and dinner depending on package. Special dietary requirements catered for. Healthy drinks provided.
Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School in Leighton Buzzard
Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2023)
Number of places
45 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2023
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire
About this day nursery
Footsteps Nursery in Leighton Buzzard is a family-operated childcare facility dedicated to children from birth up to school age. The nursery prides itself on offering a nurturing 'home from home' atmosphere, focusing on delivering exceptional childcare within an environment that is both stimulating and secure.
The team of professional and experienced staff are committed to meeting the individual needs of each child. The nursery incorporates various educational philosophies, such as Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, and Reggio Emilia, to enrich the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
This holistic approach ensures children are well-prepared for their transition to school. Footsteps Nurseries also places a strong emphasis on healthy and nutritious meals, prepared fresh daily in their own kitchens, accommodating special dietary requirements.
Outdoor learning is a core belief, with a spacious garden providing diverse activities and opportunities for play and exploration in all weather conditions. The nursery actively integrates with the local community through regular outings and visits.
Our ethos
Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School integrates the Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, and Reggio Emilia philosophies within the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, aiming to provide a stimulating, secure, and nurturing 'home from home' environment. They emphasise outdoor learning, community integration, and catering to individual needs to ensure children are well-prepared for school.
What it's like
Children arrive at the nursery excited and eager to go inside. Staff know all children and families well, greeting them warmly to help them settle and feel safe. Children enjoy playing outdoors, using magnifying glasses to look at insects and engaging in rich conversations about them. Younger children confidently move around the garden, jumping, crawling, and climbing, supporting their physical development and social skills. Babies develop physical skills and emerging communication through playing with balls and instruments.
Family-ownedHome-from-home environmentHolistic approach to educationEmphasis on outdoor learningFreshly prepared meals
Pricing & funding
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Request pricing →Key facts
Opening hours
Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm.
Age range
birth to school age
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School
Last inspected 17 February 2023 · Julia Maynard
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children arrive at the nursery excited and eager to go inside. Staff know all children and families well, greeting them warmly to help them settle and feel safe. Children enjoy playing outdoors, using magnifying glasses to look at insects and engaging in rich conversations about them. Younger children confidently move around the garden, jumping, crawling, and climbing, supporting their physical development and social skills. Babies develop physical skills and emerging communication through playing with balls and instruments.
Inspector highlights
- The dedicated team plans and organises the curriculum well, putting children's interests at the heart of everything they do and supporting them to become curious, confident, and independent with a love of the outdoors.
- Children develop good literacy skills through a wide range of books and a book swap programme to enhance early reading.
- Children visit local places of interest and residential care homes, fostering a sense of community and providing exciting opportunities that support their cultural capital.
- Leaders and managers support staff well-being and provide valuable professional development, resulting in knowledgeable staff who understand nursery policies and procedures.
- Children are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles, learning about oral hygiene and handwashing, and have many opportunities to enjoy fresh air and exercise, enhancing their understanding of good health and well-being.
Areas to develop
- 1support staff to develop their teaching skills, so that they consistently use skilful questioning techniques
- 2strengthen opportunities for children to learn about cultural diversity in their community and the wider world.
Inspection #10276258 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
Outdoor space
Children enjoy playing outdoors. They spend time using magnifying glasses to look at insects, engaging in rich conversations and exploring shapes and sizes, which supports their understanding of the world and mathematics. Younger children confidently move around the garden in a range of ways, supporting their physical development and social skills. Children are given many opportunities to enjoy fresh air and exercise, showing growing competency in manoeuvring around obstacles on their bicycles.
Parent Reviews of Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School
5.0
(5)
Kelly Moriarty
7 months ago
Home from home nursery with lovely staff. Both my children love going to Footsteps. Knowing that they are looked after and loved makes my heart very happy!
Read on Google
Kate S
7 months ago
Brilliant nursery with a home from home feeling. Staff are absolutely superb, they can’t do enough for the kids to help in their development and make sure they are very well cared for
Read on Google
Margaret Schumacher
in the last week
What a lovely pre-school Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School is. Our little one has flourished there, coming home full of chatter, confidence and little stories about the day. The staff are warm, attentive and genuinely caring, with a knack for making every child feel settled and valued. We’ve seen such a difference in our child’s confidence with sharing, counting and making friends, and the daily updates are always reassuring. It’s a proper gem of a place, and we’re chuffed to bits with the support and kindness shown throughout.
Read on Google
Alfie Bolden
7 months ago
Stuart Clarke
6 years ago
Reviews from Google for Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: December 2009
- February 2023Good
- July 2017Good
- April 2015Good
- December 2009Good
Frequently asked about Footsteps Nursery & Pre-School
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