Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 08:00 - 15:00
Little Steps Montessori Nursery School
Ofsted: Strong standard·
5.0(6 parent reviews)
·The Ken Hogan Pavilion, Berrydown Sports Ground, BASINGSTOKE, RG25 3BT · Hampshire
Number of places
26 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2025
Local authority
Hampshire
About this day nursery
Little Steps Montessori Nursery School, located in Basingstoke, operates as a childcare setting on non-domestic premises, catering to children aged 2 to 4 years. Established in 2013, the nursery maintains strong standards across all areas of its provision, as highlighted in its December 2025 inspection report.
The school prides itself on fostering a strong sense of belonging, where children are warmly welcomed by staff and quickly engage in play, developing independence and self-care skills. The curriculum, based on the EYFS framework, is ambitious and inclusive, tailored to meet individual children's needs and interests.
The dedicated team focuses on high-quality interactions, ensuring children make excellent progress and are supported in their learning and development, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders effectively use funding to provide necessary adaptations and staff training, ensuring all children have equal opportunities to participate and learn.
The nursery operates Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 15:00, creating a consistent routine for children.
What it's like
Children arrive happy and ready to learn, developing a strong sense of belonging as they self-register and greet friends. They are warmly welcomed by staff and confidently engage in play. Staff listen attentively to children, supporting their engagement and choices, leading to consistent progress in their learning and development.
Strong standardsInclusive provisionExcellent progressStrong relationshipsIndependence skills
Key facts
Established
2013
Ofsted Inspection — new report card
Strong standard
Last inspected Dec 2025
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
AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
2 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Little Steps Montessori Nursery School
Last inspected 10 December 2025
What it's like to attend
Children arrive happy and ready to learn, developing a strong sense of belonging as they self-register and greet friends. They are warmly welcomed by staff and confidently engage in play. Staff listen attentively to children, supporting their engagement and choices, leading to consistent progress in their learning and development.
Inspector highlights
- Children benefit from high-quality interactions and make excellent progress across all areas of the early years foundation stage.
- Children develop friendships and are quick to engage and invite others into their play, building personal, social, and emotional development.
- Children learn independence and self-care skills, and are resilient in trying to successfully complete tasks.
- Leaders and staff set clear expectations and boundaries for children's behaviour and attitudes to learning, positively role modelling relationships.
- Staff promote healthy routines with parents and carers, emphasising the positive impact of regular attendance on children's overall development.
- Leaders and staff foster strong relationships with children and their families, supporting children's welfare and wellbeing.
Areas to develop
- 1Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known (or previously known) to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.
Inspection #10399172 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff ensure that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, have the same opportunities to engage and participate in their learning and development. Leaders use funding to provide adaptations and staff training to meet specific needs, planning provision to ensure effective teaching and positive impact on children.
Parent Reviews of Little Steps Montessori Nursery School
5.0
(6)
Beckie Hey
3 years ago
Little Steps has been a wonderful nursery for our son. They've supported us through all his needs and he's grown so much since starting, constantly surprising us with new things he's learning. Brenda and the team have done outstanding work and really care for each child's individual needs to ensure they are supported and well equipped for starting school. Our daughter will be starting in September too and I'm eager to see how she grows. I highly recommend this nursery.
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Victoria Ryder
3 years ago
I highly recommend Little Steps. Our 2 year old son has attended for a full academic year since we moved him from another local setting. Within a few weeks he could put on his shoes and coat independently - surprising us! The variety of activities and the learning is great, but our favourite thing is the staff. Brenda, Gemma and Beth truly care for each child and foster their learning and independence, at the same time as having lots of fun!
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Helen Marrocco
3 years ago
A lovely, well equipped setting with lots of outdoor space and friendly, experienced staff who encourage the children to be creative and independent. Both our boys absolutely thrived during their time at Little Steps with Brenda and her amazing team & continue to benefit from the strong foundations they helped them to build there. We all count ourselves very lucky to be part of the Little Steps family.
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Violeta Matule
3 years ago
Amazing nursery!!!!! I highly recommend Little Steps Montessori School!!!!! Teachers put their whole heart into teaching children. They are great professionals in their field. Children love them. Nursery has a homely atmosphere, everything is very clean, the children are always dry and clean. Teachers prepare children for school very well and approach this professionally and with great responsibility.
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Josh Hey
3 years ago
We currently sending our son who will be going to school soon, and we plan on sending out daughter shortly. The staff are excellent and the children all love going, and have a warm welcoming feel at every drop off. Cannot recommend Brenda, Gemma and the team more highly.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Little Steps Montessori Nursery School. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: October 2015
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.
- July 2025Inadequate
- December 2019Outstanding
- October 2015Outstanding
Frequently asked about Little Steps Montessori Nursery School
Nearby day nurseries in BASINGSTOKE
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Little Steps Montessori Nursery School.
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2.0 miOfsted: Outstanding
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The Barn Nursery School (Wootton)
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