Opening hours
Monday to Friday, all year round, from 8am until 6pm
STEP Childcare
Ofsted: Good
(May 2025)
Number of places
52 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2025
Local authority
Sheffield
About this day nursery
STEP Childcare, located in Sheffield, provides full-day childcare for children aged 0-4 years. Registered in 2008, the nursery operates from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round.
The dedicated team of 12 childcare staff, including the nursery manager, foster a nurturing and happy environment where children feel secure and confident. They engage children in a wide range of stimulating activities, skilfully adapting them to individual interests and developmental stages.
The curriculum, which focuses on equality and communication, is ambitious and tailored to meet each child's needs, resulting in excellent communication and language skills. The staff builds strong bonds with children, ensuring they feel emotionally secure and valued.
Parents appreciate the strong partnerships with staff, evidenced by daily progress updates and an app, and confirm that children love attending the setting and become confident communicators. The nursery effectively supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) by collaborating with professionals, developing individual learning plans, and sharing ideas with parents for home learning.
Children also benefit from free-flow access to outdoors, promoting healthy lifestyles and opportunities for physical play and exploration.
What it's like
Children arrive happily and are ready to play and learn. Staff welcome families warmly and invite parents into the rooms to hand over. Staff build excellent rapport with parents and children. Children develop a love of reading and stories. Staff sit among children so that they feel safe and have a sense of belonging.
Ambitious curriculumNurturing environmentStrong parent partnershipsOutdoor playCommunication skills
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
Tax-Free Childcare
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All_year
Established
2008
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for STEP Childcare
Last inspected 16 May 2025
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Children arrive happily and are ready to play and learn. Staff welcome families warmly and invite parents into the rooms to hand over. Staff build excellent rapport with parents and children. Children develop a love of reading and stories. Staff sit among children so that they feel safe and have a sense of belonging.
Inspector highlights
- Children arrive happily and are ready to play and learn.
- Staff build excellent rapport with parents and children, getting to know them well so they settle easily.
- Older children start the day in group time, greeting each other and engaging in authentic interactions with staff.
- Children develop a love of reading and stories, feeling safe and having a sense of belonging during story time.
- Leaders create an ambitious curriculum that focuses on equality and communication, adapting it to meet the needs of every child.
- Children feel confident and develop excellent communication and language skills.
- Staff create a wide range of stimulating and engaging activities, skilfully adapting them to children's interests.
- Children have lots of opportunities to develop independence and self-care skills, even the very youngest.
- The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with an open and positive culture.
- Children help to feed guinea pigs and learn about animal care, promoting language development and a sense of belonging.
Areas to develop
- 1Review the organisation of planned group activities to enhance children's understanding, focus, and achievement with fewer distractions.
- 2Provide more opportunities for children to develop independence and self-care skills, such as wiping noses.
Inspection #10392866 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff work closely as a team to support children, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They collaborate with other professionals, develop individual learning plans and share ideas with parents to support learning at home. Leaders spend additional funding wisely to support all children.
Outdoor space
Staff promote healthy lifestyles and children enjoy free-flow access to outdoors. Staff create opportunities for physical play and exploration.Children climb, balance, ride bicycles and role play.
Inspection history
Date: July 2009
- May 2025Good
- September 2019Good
- August 2015Good
- July 2009Good
Frequently asked about STEP Childcare
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