Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 7am until 6pm
Stepping Stones Day Nursery in Manchester (M28)
Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2023)
Number of places
47 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2023
Local authority
Salford
About this day nursery
Stepping Stones Day Nursery, registered with Ofsted in 2014, provides childcare for children aged 0-4 years. Open all year round from Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, it offers a welcoming and nurturing environment where children are happy, safe, and contented.
The day nursery received a 'Good' rating in its latest Ofsted inspection on 14 March 2023. Babies at Stepping Stones develop fine motor skills and learn to recognise animal noises, while older children engage in messy play and exciting science experiments, delighting in fizzing and bubbling reactions.
Children at Stepping Stones benefit from a rich and varied curriculum that supports their individual learning styles and prepares them well for school. The dedicated staff, who are well-supported by the management team, have high aspirations for all children and are committed to fostering strong progress.
Communication and language development is a key focus, with regular reading, nursery rhymes, and a rich vocabulary embedded into daily activities. The nursery also places a strong emphasis on developing independence skills, encouraging older children to take on responsibilities and younger ones to master putting on their own shoes and coats.
Outdoor play is a significant part of the experience, allowing children to develop strength and confidence through activities such as squelching through mud, climbing trees, navigating obstacle courses, and swinging from a tyre swing, which helps them learn to challenge themselves and take managed risks. Parents commend the nursery staff for directly contributing to their children's increased self-confidence and independence, highlighting effective communication and strong partnership working.
Children also engage in community outings, visiting the local library to foster a love of reading and a retirement home to interact with residents, broadening their understanding of the world around them.
What it's like
Children are happy, safe and contented. Babies develop small muscles in their hands and begin to recognise animal noises. Older children engage in messy play and science experiments, laughing with delight as they create fizzing and bubbling reactions.
Happy, safe & contented childrenStrong progressOutdoor play & managed risksStrong focus on communicationIndependence skills fostered
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Registered with Ofsted
2014
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Stepping Stones Day Nursery
Last inspected 14 March 2023 · Richard Sutcliffe
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, safe and contented. Babies develop small muscles in their hands and begin to recognise animal noises. Older children engage in messy play and science experiments, laughing with delight as they create fizzing and bubbling reactions.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders and managers have taken prompt and effective action to address the areas for improvement highlighted at the previous inspection.
- Staff talk positively about the support and care they receive from the management team and benefit from meaningful training.
- Staff have high aspirations of all children and are committed to implementing the nursery''s curriculum, resulting in strong progress for children.
- Leaders focus on supporting children''s communication and language development through regular reading, nursery rhymes, and varied vocabulary.
- Staff support children well to develop their independence skills, with older children taking on roles of responsibility and younger children learning to put on their own shoes and coats.
Areas to develop
- 1help children to develop a greater understanding of their own cultural heritage and that of those in the local community
- 2consistently provide children with the correct pronunciation of words to help further enhance their speaking skills.
Inspection #10243324 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents say that the nursery staff contribute directly to their children's increased self-confidence and independence.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
Outdoor space
Children develop both their strength and confidence during outdoor play. They squelch through mud, climb trees, negotiate obstacle courses they create and swing from the tyre swing. This helps children learn to challenge themselves and take managed risks.
Google Reviews of Stepping Stones Day Nursery
4.5
(14 Google reviews)
Suzanne Vost
a year ago
Stepping Stones is a fantastic nursery! My oldest has been there two years. She has absolutely thrived there. The staff are brilliant; kind and caring. They know every child individually and work with them to build their strengths and to encourage their learning. They do loads of different activities to improve fine and gross motor skills, and imaginative and independent play. My daughter loves going and has learnt so much from being there.
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Melanie McCowan
5 years ago
My little girl has been going to Stepping Stones for 3 years now. I cannot describe how wonderful it it. From the staff, to the setting, to the food we have nothing but amazing things to say about everyone and everything. During the pandemic my little girl moved from toddlers to preschool and the transition period was difficult for her to adjust to, the staff went above and beyond to calling me to let me know how she was doing to taking their time allowing me to drop off. I will never have enough thanks and gratitude to Cheryl and the team for looking after my baby. Thank you all!
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Markus Dyckmans
5 years ago
We have made a completely positive experience with Stepping Stones in Boothstown. As every parent knows it is a stressful decision to make especially for first time parents such as ourselves when it comes to choosing the caretaker for your child. After considering multiple options throughout Manchester we decided to go with Stepping Stones due to the small group sizes and familiar atmosphere. We are over the moon with the entire experience. They have made it easy for us to trust them and gave our child a great transition into nursery life. Within a matter of days the development of our little one has been fantastic and they are genuinely enjoying the experience every single day. Thank you to all of the team - we do appreciate the fantastic service and how you keep us in the loop regularly.
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Dani Knowles
4 years ago
When my son moved to stepping stones Worsley the change was undeniable, within a few days he was settled into the toddler room, he'd struggled to settle at a previous nursery so we were shocked and delighted. His speech also changed dramatically, within a few weeks he went from using single words to using 3 words in a little sentence and I knew then I'd made the right decision with moving him! I couldn't recommend them highly enough, the children are familiar with all staff and rooms in the building so moving from room to room is a smooth thought out transition!
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Hannah Sanderson
4 years ago
T H E B E S T N U R S E R Y I N T H E A R E A!!! My daughter has spent the last year at stepping stones Worsley and is just leaving for pre school. I cannot praise Cheryl and her lovely team enough for everything they do for the children at their nursery. They are so warm, welcoming and attentive and make all the children feel so welcome, they are like an extended family. The love they show for each and every child melts my heart. I am a nurse myself and 100% recommend this nursery to any of the local children. My daughter has been SO happy with the team, we couldn’t be happier with them. If you are looking for a home from home for your child that meet the early years foundation programme then this nursery is the one!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Stepping Stones Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2023
Date: July 2016
- March 2023Good
- April 2022Requires improvement
- February 2019Good
- July 2016Good
Frequently asked about Stepping Stones Day Nursery
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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