Opening hours
7:30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday
Stepping Stones Day Nursery in Pattison Industrial Estate
Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2023)
Number of places
98 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2023
Local authority
Sunderland
About this day nursery
Stepping Stones Day Nursery Washington is an established early years setting that has been serving the community since 1998. It received a 'Good' rating from Ofsted in 2023, reflecting its commitment to quality childcare.
The nursery prides itself on offering a warm, home-like atmosphere, equipped with age-appropriate resources that encourage development through creative and sensory activities. A significant feature is its expansive outdoor area, which includes diverse surfaces and activities like sand pits, mud kitchens, vegetable patches, and bug gardens, tailored for different age groups and supporting the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning and development.
The facility is strategically located within Pattinson Industrial Estate, ensuring a secure environment with controlled access. Stepping Stones Washington aims to foster independence in toddlers, facilitate language development, and prepare preschoolers for school transitions by building social, emotional, and decision-making skills.
The nursery also emphasises healthy living through meal times where children learn about food origins, and they actively involve parents through 'stay and play' sessions and homework activities designed to extend learning beyond the nursery.
Our ethos
Stepping Stones Day Nursery Washington aims to foster independence, language development, and school readiness through a focus on social, emotional, and decision-making skills. Their approach is rooted in the EYFS, utilising creative and sensory activities, and an expansive outdoor area with nature-based play, to provide a warm, home-like atmosphere that encourages learning through exploration and healthy living. They actively involve parents to extend learning beyond the nursery.
What it's like
Children are warmly welcomed by a friendly and nurturing staff team into a well-organised, safe and homely environment. They have many opportunities to freely explore resources and the environment and develop excellent relationships with staff. Children are excited and motivated to learn, developing good gross motor skills and resilience through outdoor play.
Good Ofsted ratingLarge outdoor spaceSchool readiness focusSecure industrial estate location
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Stepping Stones Day Nursery
Last inspected 10 January 2023 · Eileen Grimes
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed by a friendly and nurturing staff team into a well-organised, safe and homely environment. They have many opportunities to freely explore resources and the environment and develop excellent relationships with staff. Children are excited and motivated to learn, developing good gross motor skills and resilience through outdoor play.
Inspector highlights
- Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported and make good progress.
- Children's communication skills are encouraged, and staff introduce new words in context.
- Staff foster children's love of books and reading from an early age.
- Staff gather detailed information from parents to plan activities for children's next stage of development.
- Partnership with parents is a strength of the nursery, and parents are highly complimentary.
Areas to develop
- 1consider the length of time young children need to respond during conversations, so that they can fully think out the solutions to their problems and questions
- 2support staff to make a clear link between the intent and delivery of planned activities to enable them to shape all activities to children's learning needs.
Inspection #10262942 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents say that their children are keen to attend and are positive about the high-quality information sharing.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported. The special educational needs coordinator is highly proactive in recognising concerns and supporting children. Staff work closely as a team to create individualised support plans, and also work with families and other professionals to build targets and support. As a result, children make good progress across all areas of learning.
Outdoor space
Children enjoy getting ready for outdoor play and help each other to put on their waterproofs and wellington boots. They make the most of being outside and develop good gross motor skills, building resilience as they climb, negotiate space on bicycles and cars, and balance on stepping stones.
Parent Reviews of Stepping Stones Day Nursery
4.5
(11)
Madi T
8 months ago
Stepping Stones Nursery is a superb facility for child care. My child loves going to nursery and the staff are all amazing. They put so much effort in to the little ones progression and their effort to provide healthy food for the children to promote healthy food choices is fantastic. Thanks so much
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Dominique Dudley
11 months ago
Beautiful nursery and lovely staff. My daughter loves her two days at nursery every week. Definitely recommend :)
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Carolyn Fenn
4 years ago
This nursery is fantastic, Terri and her team are absolutely wonderful! My little girl has only been going since November 2020 but loves it. She has really come on in all areas and it's because of the hard work of all of the team. They have lots of areas for little ones to explore and learn through play. We are so sad to be leaving at the end of the summer but going to a school nursery in September. My little girl will miss everyone so much.
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Nicola Fullard
4 years ago
Fantastic nursery! My eldest has been attending for over 2 years now and he loves it and has some great relationships with the staff, who are all friendly, caring and attentive. My youngest has just started and the staff and doing everything to help her settle in. I would definitely recommend.
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Carol Thoburn
8 years ago
My Brief use of this service was memorable for all the wrong reasons. So book in with the nursery for the 3 free complimentary introduction days, first hour went fine although the state of carpets were not up to standard I left this. Next 2 hour slot the following day I went to pick up my 8 month old baby to receive her back upset/distressed soaking wet and cold and covered in food. Appalling I was told by the lady looking after her she had tried to settle her with songs and didn't know why she was upset. After a very sleepless night I called the nursery first thing asked her place was cancelled, later I went in to the nursery to request a refund for the months fees I'd paid this all seemed fine. I called a week later to be told I'd be refunded half of what I paid. Disgusting. This nursery needs to be looked at very closely by OFSTED this is not a good environment for very small babies. They are a chain company not interested in the well fair of your baby.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Stepping Stones Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: August 2009
- January 2023Good
- April 2017Good
- March 2015Good
- March 2014Requires improvement
- January 2013Good
- April 2010Good
- August 2009Inadequate
Frequently asked about Stepping Stones Day Nursery
About the setting
Stepping Stones Day Nursery registered in 1998. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff, with 14 holding appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including one with qualified teacher status. It operates all year round from 7:30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, and provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.
- URN
- 318602
- Registered person
- Stepping Stones Nurseries Limited
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
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