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Small Steps Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2022)
·
4.5(2 parent reviews) ·Kaleidoscope Childrens Centre, Exeter Close, Kidlington, OX5 1AB · Oxfordshire
Number of places
29 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2022
Local authority
Oxfordshire

About this day nursery

Small Steps Day Nursery in Kidlington aims to foster children's natural curiosity, encouraging them to explore and question the world around them. The nursery provides hands-on learning experiences designed to help children develop into confident individuals.

Safeguarding children and families is a top priority, with all staff trained by the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership. The nursery offers various session times, including full days, early start school days, morning, afternoon, and standard school days, with an option for teatime.

Meals and snacks are inclusive with packed lunches supplied by parents, but optional extra activities, like dance classes, incur additional charges. Small Steps Day Nursery also accepts government funding schemes, stretching the allocated hours over the year to provide flexibility for families.

The nursery currently has a long waiting list, with no availability until at least January 2027.

Our ethos

Small Steps Day Nursery fosters children's natural curiosity, encouraging them to explore and question the world through hands-on learning experiences. They aim to develop confident individuals, with safeguarding as a top priority.

What it's like

Children are happy and content learners. Younger children develop positive attachments with their key person and explore the environment confidently. Children enjoy stimulating activities, behave well, and show high levels of engagement and enjoyment.

Nurturing CuriositySafeguarding FocusFlexible Funding Options

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged hourly for any hours used over the funded entitlement, with rates based on age and capped at a maximum daily rate. Meals and snacks are included in the session prices, but parents must provide a packed lunch. Optional extra activities are charged separately.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Meals and snacks are included in the session price.
  • Parents must provide a packed lunch.
  • Optional extra activities, such as dance classes, are charged separately.

Key facts

Opening hours

Whole Day -8:00am – 5:30pm; Early Start School Day-8:00am – 3:45pm; Morning Session- 8:45am – 12:45pm; Afternoon Session- 12:45pm – 3:45pm; School Day- 8:45am – 3:45pm; School day with Teatime- 8:45am –5:30pm

Waitlist

Waiting list, no availability until at least January 2027.

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2020

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Small Steps Day Nursery

Last inspected 15 July 2022 · Lisa Dailey

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 are happy and content learners. Younger children develop positive attachments with their key person and explore the environment confidently. Children enjoy stimulating activities, behave well, and show high levels of engagement and enjoyment.

Inspector highlights

  • The manager implements tailored settling-in procedures to help children develop secure bonds with their key person.
  • Staff have supported parents promptly during the pandemic when they have struggled to access professional advice.
  • Staff help children to learn how they are unique and about similarities and differences between themselves and others.
  • The manager ensures that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully included in nursery life.
  • Staff ensure that the curriculum promotes children's physical development, supporting younger children to climb and toddlers to develop hand muscles.
  • Staff recognise the importance of helping children to understand their feelings and emotions, using funding effectively to purchase resources to help children learn to describe how they are feeling.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to more effectively identify spontaneous opportunities where they can teach children knowledge and skills, which they can then apply to their future learning
  • 2review the organisation of routine times and ensure all children can participate when they wish and their learning is not interrupted.
Inspection #10239521 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents are very complimentary about the support they have received.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The manager ensures that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully included in nursery life. For example, staff work with parents to ensure they are meeting children's nutritional and medical requirements. They swiftly implement advice from relevant professionals, such as occupational therapists, to help children have equal access to all areas of the environment.

Outdoor space

Staff ensure that the premises is safe and suitable each day. They demonstrate this when they complete regular health and safety checks of the outdoor area and of floor spaces to ensure that they are free from obstacles. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

Parent Reviews of Small Steps Day Nursery

4.5
(2)
Tudor S
3 years ago

Words are simply not enough to describe what we experienced during the time our son went there...pureley amazing. Professional and friendly staff to say the least, we were lucky to have our son with them for the best part of 2 and 1/2 years and most definitely would recommend this nursery for everyone who is having a think about were to go with their children in Kidlington. I'm not sure if names are allowed in this sort of reviews but I simply cannot restrain myself, therefore Becca,Karen,Lucy,Camilla,Hatty,Susan(+the rest of your team)Thank you! Your efforts have been noticed and greatly appreciated, you all are amazing at what you do and we will remember the Small Steps forever.

Read on Google
Gwen D.
3 years ago

Had a visit with my daughter to possibly enrol my granddaughter for the next year. A small friendly place with happy staff. We liked it. Really nice garden. It is a very small nursery but seems well organised

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Small Steps Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: July 2022

  • August 2022Good
  • July 2022Good

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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