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Stepping Stones Day Nursery (Totton)

Ofsted: Good
(Oct 2024)
·
5.0(28 parent reviews)
·74 Eling Lane, Totton, Southampton, SO40 9GF · Hampshire
Number of places
30 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Oct 2024
Local authority
Hampshire

About this day nursery

Stepping Stones Day Nursery (Totton) Ltd, located in Southampton, SO40 9GF, offers childcare for children aged 0-4 years. The nursery operates from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round.

Inspected by Ofsted on 7th October 2024, the nursery received an overall "Good" rating. Children are warmly greeted and settle quickly, forming strong attachments with their key person.

Staff are attentive and support children's choices, fostering self-esteem and independence. The curriculum at Stepping Stones Day Nursery effortlessly supports children's curiosity, with staff interweaving learning as children explore and investigate various materials, developing skills such as small motor control and expanding their vocabulary.

The nursery ensures effective key-person arrangements for all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), utilising additional funding to help close any learning gaps. Older children at the nursery are also involved in risk-assessing the garden area, developing their understanding of safety.

Parents commend the staff and management team for their good communication, support, and guidance, highlighting that their children flourish at the nursery.

What it's like

Children are happy and confident at the nursery, warmly greeted by staff, and settle quickly into familiar routines, forming strong attachments with their key person. Staff are attentive to children's needs, support their choices, and use effective strategies to promote positive behaviour, fostering self-esteem and independence. The curriculum supports children's curiosity, with staff interweaving learning as children explore and investigate, developing a range of skills including small physical skills and vocabulary.

Good Ofsted ratingFosters independenceCuriosity-led learningEffective SEND supportSafe and welcomingGood communication

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Stepping Stones Day Nursery (Totton)

Last inspected 7 October 2024 · Tracy Bartholomew

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Children are happy and confident at the nursery, warmly greeted by staff, and settle quickly into familiar routines, forming strong attachments with their key person. Staff are attentive to children's needs, support their choices, and use effective strategies to promote positive behaviour, fostering self-esteem and independence. The curriculum supports children's curiosity, with staff interweaving learning as children explore and investigate, developing a range of skills including small physical skills and vocabulary.

Inspector highlights

  • The management team work well together and are clearly passionate and committed in helping all children to thrive.
  • Children play in a safe and welcoming nursery. Older children are developing skills in how to keep themselves safe as they help staff to risk assess the garden area.
  • Staff teach children the importance of good health, encouraging good hygiene routines.
  • Staff benefit from regular team meetings and supervisions and have access to a good range of training opportunities.
  • Parents speak highly of all staff and the management team, commenting on good communication, support and guidance.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to strengthen their understanding of how to aid children's early language development and broaden their vocabulary
  • 2develop further the systems for coaching and mentoring staff to raise the quality of education.
Inspection #10364922 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Effective key-person arrangements are in place to ensure that all children are well supported and their individual needs are met. Additional funding is used effectively to close any gaps in children's learning.

Outdoor space

Older children are developing skills in how to keep themselves safe as they help staff to risk assess the garden area.

Parent Reviews of Stepping Stones Day Nursery (Totton)

5.0
(28)
Georgia Hart
a year ago

My daughter has been going to Stepping Stones for a few months now and she is loving it. The transition has been easy and not like what people told me to expect. She hasn’t once cried when I’ve dropped her off, in fact she reaches for the door! I love how regularly the team update the app, so I can see exactly how her day is going. I look forward to picking her up as I get to see her enjoying herself and the team are always so welcoming and happy to tell me about her day. You can tell how much they love and care for the children by the activities they design, the food they serve and the way they speak to & about them! My daughter has clearly built some lovely bonds with the ladies in her room and I can tell she is very happy and at ease with them. It is clear that all staff are professional, following policies well and they communicate exceptionally. I have no complaints or concerns and I look forward to seeing how much more she develops as time goes on!

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Ella Barber
8 months ago

I cannot thank Stepping Stones Nursery enough for my son's start to nursery. I was really nervous about being separated from him but from the app updates and photo's I receive throughout the day, he is clearly experiencing a high level of care and really enjoying himself. Its been a much easier transition than I had imagined.

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Abi Philo
a year ago

Stepping Stones Nursery has truly exceeded all of our expectations! From the moment we stepped in, it was clear that the safety and well-being of the children are their top priorities. The staff are warm, welcoming, and highly attentive, ensuring that every child feels loved and secure in their care. The nursery offers an incredible range of activities that are both educational and fun. There’s a perfect balance of creative play, hands-on learning, and outdoor exploration, which helps foster both cognitive and social development. Whether it’s building with blocks, engaging in imaginative play, or exploring the garden, the children are constantly encouraged to think, create, and interact. One of the standout features of Stepping Stones is their focus on creativity. The play invitations are thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity and imagination, and it’s amazing to see how engaged and excited the children are each day. And let’s not forget the food! The home-cooked meals look absolutely delicious, nutritious, and made with care. The cook Angie even gets the children involved frequently with her cooking club which Darcy absolutely loves! Stepping Stones is a truly special place where children can thrive, learn, and feel safe and happy. We couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful care and support they provide. Highly recommend!

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Lauren Carey
a year ago

Stepping Stones has been part of all three of our children's journeys and I wouldn't choose anywhere else! The provision that they provide is incredible. We really love the curiosity approach to the play spaces, giving the nursery a beautiful homely feel and providing high level, rich experiences for the children. The communication with the staff is great & wonderful home cooked food- adds to the homely feel of the setting! Communication with the staff is fab and I feel very comfortable with leaving my child in their safe hands. We feel incredibly lucky that our children are/have attended this nursery! Thank you Stepping Stones family!

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Shannon Harris
a year ago

Stepping Stones is a warm, welcoming environment that feels just like home. The staff are exceptional—so caring, patient, and genuinely dedicated. They provide the best home cooked food with the menu changing often. The babies get to spend time playing in the garden and take part in a range of creative painting activities. My son loves his days there and is actually excited when he see’s his nursery bag in the morning. It’s the perfect setting for young children to feel safe, happy, and encouraged to explore their creativity. We feel so lucky to have found such a wonderful place for him!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Stepping Stones Day Nursery (Totton). See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

7 October 2024

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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