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Millennium First Steps Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Jun 2021)
·
4.8(6 parent reviews) ·Unit-1A, Station Approach, Hitchin, SG4 9UW · Hertfordshire
Number of places
116 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2021
Local authority
Hertfordshire

About this day nursery

Millennium First Steps Nursery in Hitchin offers flexible childcare for children from 3 months to 5 years. The nursery focuses on providing a high-quality early years education that is child-centred, considering each child’s unique background and future potential.

Their approach emphasises connections, confidence, physical and mental well-being, community engagement, and fostering innovation. The nursery creates a stimulating environment where children are encouraged to be resilient, understand their emotions, and express themselves freely through play and exploration, including messy activities.

They pride themselves on a carefully selected team of qualified practitioners who are passionate and dedicated to meeting individual needs, with ongoing training and development. The nursery is open 51 weeks a year, closing for public holidays and one week over Christmas and New Year.

They offer flexible booking patterns, including full-day and school-day options, with the possibility to add extra hours.

Our ethos

Millennium First Steps Nursery Ltd. focuses on a child-centred approach to early years education, valuing connections, confidence, well-being, community, and innovation. They strive to create a stimulating environment that encourages resilience, emotional understanding, and self-expression through play and exploration.

What it's like

Children arrive happily at nursery and are greeted warmly by staff. There are many opportunities for children to develop their personal and emotional skills, and they experiment in their play, learning about the natural world. Children are inquisitive in their learning, developing coordination and fine motor skills through various activities.

Flexible sessionsChild-centred outcomesPlay-based learningQualified early years team

Pricing & funding

Fees are calculated on an actuals basis and paid monthly in advance. Standard fees include meals, snacks, nappies, and wipes, though meals are charged separately for funded hours. Fees are payable in full for 52 weeks of the year, including during closures and absences.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Fees are payable monthly in advance by the 1st of the month, calculated on an actuals basis.
  • Fees are due in full for 52 weeks a year, including bank holidays, INSET days, and Christmas closure.
  • Absences on booking days are fully chargeable.
  • Nappies, wipes, and all meals are included in standard fees; funded places exclude meals.
  • Registration fee and deposit are waived for funded-only placements.

Key facts

Food

Breakfast, lunch, tea, and snacks are included in the fees; meals are charged separately for funded sessions or parents can provide home meals. Nappies and wipes are included.

Session types

Full Day (8am-6pm), School Day (9am-3pm), Half Day (8am-1pm), Half Day (1pm-6pm)

Opening hours

Mon to Fri: 7.30am to 6.30pm

Age range

3 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2004

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Millennium First Steps Nursery

Last inspected 16 June 2021 · Elke Rockey

Safeguarding effective
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 happily at nursery and are greeted warmly by staff. There are many opportunities for children to develop their personal and emotional skills, and they experiment in their play, learning about the natural world. Children are inquisitive in their learning, developing coordination and fine motor skills through various activities.

Inspector highlights

  • The management team thoroughly evaluates the nursery's performance and has a clear plan for further development, with a strong focus on improving staff practice.
  • The new manager has implemented robust systems for performance management and staff undertake professional development, feeling supported and working better with children.
  • Staff know the children well, regularly observe and assess their learning, and provide a balance of adult-led and child-led experiences tailored to individual needs.
  • Staff encourage children to predict and build on ideas during activities, incorporating mathematical concepts and promoting social and personal care skills during mealtimes.
  • The nursery offers fresh, healthy meals cooked on site, with consideration for all children's dietary needs, making mealtimes a rounded learning experience.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported, with staff quickly identifying developmental delays and working with parents and professionals to ensure good progress.
  • Parents appreciate the noticeable improvements and increased communication, which helps them extend their child's learning at home.

Areas to develop

  • 1support less experienced staff to plan and deliver adult-led activities more effectively
  • 2help staff to explain the consequences of behaviour to older children so that they have a better understanding of their actions.
Inspection #10143151 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents speak of the noticeable improvements that have been made. They appreciate the increased level of communication about their children's day. Parents are able to extend their child's learning at home because they are told in advance what activities the staff will provide for the week.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. If children are not developing within age-related expectations, staff identify this quickly. They work with parents and other professionals to support the child and family. As a result, these children make good progress in their development.

Outdoor space

Children use water in the garden to wash the play equipment, water the herbs and create a beach in the sand tray. The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact these have on children's learning.

Parent Reviews of Millennium First Steps Nursery

4.8
(6)
Harriet Spence
a year ago

This nursery has been a home away from home for my two from 12 months to pre-school. The staff are wonderful and their care is shown in the lovely relationships that they have with the children. Sophie the manager is fantastic and is the driving force in some really great improvements and initiatives. My youngest will be leaving soon for school and they have set her up beautifully to make the transition. Would definitely recommend.

Read on Google
Amelia Cooper
a year ago

What a gem of a place. My boy has been there for nearly 3 years now and all I can say how wonderful Sophie (manager) and her team are. They are going above and beyond at the moment and the preschool rooms are amazing. I've spoken to friends and their kids aren't learning/doing as much as they are in his preschool in Hitchin. The staff are incredible and massively nurture the children, and hold special bonds. Sophie is always thinking of ways to make the place even better. If your looking for a great nursery, or preschool in Hitchin I'd highly recommend. Also, I was skeptical at first due to the outside of the building, but trust me, it's amazing!

Read on Google
Olesya Ma
a year ago

I cannot thank enough everyone at the Millennium nursery for all the care & love & fun that my daughter has been surrounded by during her time here. My daughter really enjoyed going here and wouldn't even want to leave at pick up times and carry on playing with so many friends she made there! As mentioned in one of the reviews - lots of space for kids to roam about, lots of various activities for them to do, food is good (according to my daughter), and kids are very well looked after. We also had so much support with the potty training that it made the whole process so much easier :) Also the nursery received the highest rating by EY Advisory Team (which was expected!). Congratulations again to the entire team, so well deserved :) So, in a nutshell, great People, location & activities. Highly recommend. Hidden gem indeed.

Read on Google
Zerrin Ozyigit
a year ago

This nursery is a hidden gem! It is very spacious inside, lots of wonderful resources. The staff are fabulous and the nursery manager is absolutely fantastic! The nursery is right by the train station, there is free parking and they have an amazing outdoor space for lots of interesting enrichment activities, such as planting, growing, observing nature, etc.

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Claire Magnier
3 years ago

Great nursery, the staff is well qualified and take care of adapt to each children. The rooms are very big, plenty of space for kids to play and learn. The opening time (8:00 to 18:00) is a really help, as well as the location for any parents commuting to London. I definitely recommend this nursery

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Millennium First Steps Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2021

Date: October 2012

  • June 2021Good
  • January 2020Requires improvement
  • January 2016Good
  • October 2012Requires improvement

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