Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Step by step children's nursery in Polegate

Ofsted: Good
(May 2025)
·
5.0(4 parent reviews) ·Polegate SDA Church, 7 Hailsham Road, Polegate, BN26 6NJ · East Sussex
Number of places
21 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
May 2025
Local authority
East Sussex

About this day nursery

Step By Step Children's Nursery offers flexible childcare for children aged 7 months to 8 years, operating five days a week from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, year-round except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Established in January 2017 in Eastbourne and expanding to Polegate in 2019, the nursery provides a nurturing, homely environment where children can develop skills and build confidence.

They offer nutritious home-cooked meals prepared on-site, fostering social skills and independence. Both the Eastbourne and Polegate nurseries have dedicated baby areas with sensory equipment.

They also boast large gardens equipped with climbing structures, mud kitchens, and areas for digging and planting, encouraging outdoor exploration and forest school activities. The nurseries prioritise learning through play, ensuring children feel secure to explore their surroundings and continue their development.

Both locations have received "GOOD" ratings from Ofsted. Visitors are encouraged to contact them for a tour to experience the nursery first-hand.

Our ethos

The nursery prioritises learning through play in a secure environment, encouraging exploration and development. They foster social skills and independence, offering outdoor exploration and forest school activities in their large gardens.

What it's like

Staff are enthusiastic and caring, helping children to settle quickly and make good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They have clear expectations for behaviour and support children's curiosity, while also organising the learning environment to ensure children can play safely and make their own choices.

Flexible childcareHome-cooked mealsLarge gardensSensory playOfsted "Good"

Pricing & funding

Fees are calculated on an hourly basis with different rates for children under and over two years old. Parents can book set sessions between 9.00am and 4.00pm, with the option to add extra hours. Meals are charged separately depending on the times the child is in attendance.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Invoiced monthly.
  • Open 7.30am to 5.30pm, five days a week, with options to add extra hours to standard sessions.
  • Offers both term-time only and all-year attendance, with additional holiday sessions available.
  • Breakfast, lunch, and tea are charged separately if attending during designated meal times.

Key facts

Opening hours

7:30 am to 5:30 pm, 5 days a week, all year round except bank holidays and 1 week at Christmas.

Session types

9.00am - 12.00noon, 9.00am- 13.00pm, 12.00noon - 16.00pm, 9.00am - 16.00pm

Food

Nutritious home-cooked meals provided on-site.

Age range

7 months to 8 years old

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Step by step children's nursery

Last inspected 29 May 2025 · Tina Lambert

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Staff are enthusiastic and caring, helping children to settle quickly and make good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They have clear expectations for behaviour and support children's curiosity, while also organising the learning environment to ensure children can play safely and make their own choices.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders regularly review all aspects of the provision and have a good understanding of strengths and areas for development.
  • Staff effectively support children's communication and language development, using modelling, visual cues, rhymes, and stories.
  • Children learn about healthy lifestyles and are provided with opportunities to develop their physical skills.
  • Children develop independence through daily routines and show high levels of independence in their play.
  • Staff provide a rich set of opportunities that help children to learn about people, families, and communities beyond their own experience, including regular day trips and visits to a local care home.

Areas to develop

  • 1support all staff to plan more precisely for what they want children to learn and to understand how to reflect this in the delivery of the curriculum.
Inspection #10399020 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Staff feedback that the nursery is a 'wonderful place to work'

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff effectively support all children to make good progress in their learning, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work closely with parents and ensure that children who need additional support are given a targeted programme which allows them to make progress in their learning. Staff take children to visit elderly residents of a local care home. This helps children to learn that not all disabilities can be seen and helps them to develop empathy for others.

Outdoor space

Children learn about healthy lifestyles and are provided with opportunities to develop their physical skills. They plan environments that encourage children to be physically active. Children develop their core muscles as they confidently climb, run and jump in the garden. They negotiate space as they use ride-on toys. Staff teach children how to propel themselves forward using their feet.

Parent Reviews of Step by step children's nursery

5.0
(4)
Evelyn H.
8 months ago

We have had a really bad nursery experience before moving to this area. This is why we were looking at our childcare options well in advance and were searching high and low for the best option for our two boys. We found Step by Step and were delighted with the small family feel to it. In no time, the children knew all the names from all the children and all the teachers. Our boys started full time at the beginning of 2022 and our youngest has just ‚graduated‘ nursery, so we were with them for almost 4 years. My children have learned skills for life, made really good friends and have developed genuine affection for their teachers. Whenever I have recommended Step by Step to other parents, I always said that the owner (Becky) has found her calling and clearly runs the nursery because she is passionate about children, and that’s what she seems to be looking for in the staff she hired. So we said it privately but we happily repeat this publicly: thank you, Becky, Lindsey and all teachers, for being part of our boys‘ village and for helping shape their youngest years and lay the foundation for the future. We are grateful for everything you have done for us.

Read on Google
Emma Crilly
a year ago

My daughter was attending step by step for 2 years and her time there was amazing. All the staff are so kind and wonderful! The activities they do with the children and days out are so fun, the food provided is cooked in house and it is varied. My daughter also has allergies and they were extremely organised with this and has health care plans in place. I would highly recommend Step by Step, the owners Becky and Lindsey are brilliant!

Read on Google
Yvette Ighodalo
a year ago

Today’s my son Jovanni’s last day at the nursery due to us relocating to another location, we hate to leave, the nursery has been super helpful and amazing to my son, my son’s has such a great time at the nursery where he’s treated with so much love and Care, I would highly recommend the nursery to anyone looking for an amazing nursery for their little one.

Read on Google
spotter bob
a month ago

My granddaughter attends this nursery and she absolutely loves it. The staff are fantastic and are very helpful A very friendly bunch of ppl all around

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Step by step children's nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: May 2025

  • June 2025Good
  • May 2025Good

Frequently asked about Step by step children's nursery

About the setting

Step by step children's nursery Ltd re-registered in 2023. The nursery is situated in Polegate, East Sussex and employs seven members of staff. Of these staff, six hold appropriate childcare qualifications up to level six. The nursery is open all year round from 7.30am to 5.30pm and provides government funded early education places for children aged from nine months to four years.

URN
2731598
Registered person
Step by Step Children's Nursery Ltd
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

Nearby day nurseries in Polegate

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Step by step children's nursery.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

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