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Little Footsteps of Dereham

Ofsted: Good
(Jun 2025)
·
4.8(43 parent reviews)
·15a Norwich Road, DEREHAM, NR20 3AE · Norfolk
Number of places
94 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2025
Local authority
Norfolk

About this day nursery

Little Footsteps of Dereham offers a nurturing environment for children, with dedicated spaces tailored to different age groups: Seedlings, Shoots, Buds, and Orchard. They also provide comprehensive wraparound care, including Breakfast, Afterschool, and Holiday Clubs, ensuring continuity of care and engaging activities outside of regular nursery hours.

The nursery prioritises individualised support, particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), actively utilising funding such as EYPP, SENIF, EHCP, and DAF to enhance resources, increase staff ratios for one-to-one supervision, and facilitate enriching experiences like community visits and specialised interventions. They are committed to transparency in their fee structure, clearly outlining various session options, sibling discounts, and additional charges.

Little Footsteps of Dereham also actively supports parents in navigating government funding schemes, offering flexibility in how entitlements are used to help families manage childcare costs.

What it's like

Staff warmly greet children, fostering a sense of belonging and providing nurturing interactions. Babies and children form reassuring attachments and feel safe to explore activities. Songs and rhymes are integrated daily to support communication development in all age groups.

Tailored age-group provisionsComprehensive wraparound careStrong SEND support

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured by room, with specific rates detailed for Seedlings based on session type and sibling discounts. Sessions include school hours, half days, and full days, with block booking discounts available. Seedlings fees include essential consumables like nappies and wipes.

Funding accepted

Tax-Free Childcare15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)

Good to know

  • Seedlings fees include all nappies, wipes, and nappy creams.
  • Sibling discounts are offered on all Seedlings session types.
  • An optional consumable charge applies to funded hours for ages 9 months to 4 years.

Key facts

Food

Prices for Seedlings include all nappies, wipes & nappy creams. Optional breakfast, lunch, and tea are available for an extra charge.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Footsteps of Dereham

Last inspected 11 June 2025 · Karen Harris

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Staff warmly greet children, fostering a sense of belonging and providing nurturing interactions. Babies and children form reassuring attachments and feel safe to explore activities. Songs and rhymes are integrated daily to support communication development in all age groups.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders are committed to providing high-quality care and education, continually reflecting on provision and demonstrating a strong capacity for improvement.
  • Leaders create a welcoming and inclusive nursery, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
  • Partnerships with parents are strong, with staff making purposeful use of drop-off and collection times to exchange information and actively involve parents in their children's development.
  • Transitions into the nursery, between rooms and on to school are managed well.
  • Staff are attentive to children's care routines, comforting babies and providing a varied menu of freshly prepared meals.

Areas to develop

  • 1continue to support staff to promote more frequent and meaningful discussions with children about their learning to check children's understanding and comprehension of what is being taught.
Inspection #10396769 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

They say they feel well informed about their child's development and value the regular updates provided.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff work closely with other professionals and use additional funding to provide tailored support, ensuring children with SEND make good progress.

Outdoor space

Children benefit from plentiful and purposeful opportunities to learn outdoors. The outdoor environment is well-resourced and organised to support physical development, exploration, and imaginative play, with children confidently engaging in activities like digging, experimenting with water, and balancing on blocks.

Parent Reviews of Little Footsteps of Dereham

4.8
(43)
Leanne Evans
5 years ago

My son started going to little footsteps back in February so not long before lockdown occured. But in that short space of time I can tell he has came on leaps and bounds with his confidence and learning. The staff are amazing and can tell that they all have bonds with the children, they are also great at keeping in contact with parents throughout the day to reassure parents that their little one is happy. The seeds room is a lovely room, when I visited I noticed that the room was kept to a high standard and was very clean. There were/are so many things available that kept my son happy whilst playing which included a reading corner, home area with a kitchen, craft area etc also his favourite is a little fish tank. All in all my son goes to nursery happy and comes home happy. The staff are lovely and communication is amazing. Would reccomended to anyone.

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Amy Connell
5 years ago

My Son has been going to Little Footsteps for nearly 2 years & has been in 2 different classes so far. The Staff are incredibly helpful & supportive to all of my sons needs. They are very informative of all that happens from daily activities to the term plans & meals available. My son cant wait to get into his class each morning he runs right in & I leave him knowing he is safe, happy & well loved by all. The most important thing for me is that my son gets the love & care I would give him myself & I have never doubted that this little footsteps. Highly recommend to anyone who wants their child extremely well looked after.

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Shelley nelson
7 years ago

My 4 year old just left to go to school. He developed so much over his time at Little Footsteps working through most of the rooms. He grew into a confident, polite and bright boy ready for school. The staff have been brilliant nurturing him. My one year old has been in since 6months old. The baby room staff are amazing at relieving parents anxiety of leaving a young baby. He loves going and the staff are great at helping him develop and reach his goals. They are so supportive and warming. All the staff are very knowledge and keen to help the children. Overall it's a great nursery which I am happy to take my children to and leave with no concerns. Thank you

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Sarahlouise Diack
7 years ago

I have an 8 year old in breakfast and after school club, who also attends holiday club and a 2 year old in Shoots. We couldn't be more happy with the excellent service Little Footsteps provides. They both have a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities to do, the quality of care and friendship provided by the staff to both my children is of a very high standard. The rooms are decorated brilliantly and very educational and both children always have a huge smile on their faces when we collect them. I know they are both looked after very well and the nursery's levels of security are very reassuring. I would recommend this nursery to anyone if you want a top quality, professionally run nursery.

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Rachel
5 years ago

All the staff that I have met at little footsteps have been so kind, caring and professional! My daughter loves going to seedlings, all the amazing workers take such good care of my little princess! They help her learn and grow in so many levels. I am so grateful to be able to trust my daughter in someone else's care! I just love how they have so many different ideas and fun games for the children to play and learn at the same time! To everyone a massive thank you from both of us, you guys really do a great job!

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Reviews from Google for Little Footsteps of Dereham. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: August 2012

  • June 2025Good
  • June 2023Good
  • February 2023Inadequate
  • February 2018Good
  • February 2014Good
  • July 2013Requires improvement
  • August 2012Good

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