Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Stepping Stones in Grantham

Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2022)
·
4.0(4 parent reviews) ·Castlegate Annex, Agnes Street, GRANTHAM, NG31 6QP · Lincolnshire
Number of places
125 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2022
Local authority
Lincolnshire

About this day nursery

Stepping Stones in Grantham, Lincolnshire, registered in 2009 under its current owners, provides a nurturing childcare environment for children aged 0 to 4. The nursery, located at Castlegate Annex, Agnes Street, operates Monday to Friday all year round, closing only for bank holidays and one week at Christmas, with sessions running from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm.

The dedicated team of six childcare staff, all qualified to level 3 or above, ensures a strong staff-to-child ratio, with additional staff brought in to meet one-to-one needs. Children at Stepping Stones benefit from a curriculum that focuses on their emerging needs, with staff thoughtfully sequencing skills development.

The nursery prioritises physical walking skills for babies and encourages active play outdoors, including risk-taking activities like climbing and jumping. Furthermore, the nursery fosters a strong sense of community, with children previously visiting local cafes and care homes, and continuing these connections virtually.

This approach helps children develop confidence, strong emotional attachments to staff, and a positive attitude towards learning, as evidenced by their active participation in activities such as exploring real vegetables in the role-play kitchen and developing early literacy skills through engaging story times.

What it's like

Children show spirit and confidence. When they arrive, they know the routine and instantly play and explore independently. Children approach visitors and invite them into their play. Babies' bonds with their key persons are exceptionally good, demonstrating secure emotional attachments. This helps develop children's physical skills and encourages them to have a positive attitude to completing tasks on their own.

Confident childrenStrong emotional bondsActive learningCommunity-focusedDedicated staff

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2009

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Stepping Stones

Last inspected 26 January 2022

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Children show spirit and confidence. When they arrive, they know the routine and instantly play and explore independently. Children approach visitors and invite them into their play. Babies' bonds with their key persons are exceptionally good, demonstrating secure emotional attachments. This helps develop children's physical skills and encourages them to have a positive attitude to completing tasks on their own.

Inspector highlights

  • Children show spirit and confidence and instantly play and explore independently when they arrive.
  • Babies have exceptionally good bonds with their key persons, demonstrating secure emotional attachments.
  • Children enjoy being physically active and are encouraged to take risks, which helps develop their physical skills.
  • Staff provide support to children to help them progress at the setting and at home, sharing information daily with parents.
  • Children have a positive attitude to their learning, demonstrating good curiosity and concentration.
  • The manager uses additional funding thoughtfully, providing hot lunches, forest school sessions, and enhanced staffing.
  • The manager and staff plan a curriculum to meet the emerging needs of the children attending.
  • There is a strong emphasis on community, with children maintaining connections with care home residents over the internet.

Areas to develop

  • 1The setting needs to adapt and enhance support for staff to focus on raising the quality of education to the highest level.
  • 2The setting needs to support staff to further improve the organisation of routine events to enhance learning experiences during these times.
Inspection #10138590 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The manager and staff have ambitious expectations for all children. Those with early identified needs are supported well. Staff have a good understanding of each child's learning journey, what they can do and what they need to learn next.

Outdoor space

Pre-school children enjoy taking risks as they climb a low wall and jump off into the arms of staff, who offer praise and encouragement. This helps develop children's physical skills.

Parent Reviews of Stepping Stones

4.0
(4)
Tim Harrison
11 years ago

Be very very wary of parking a vehicle on these premises. The owner tried to con my taxi company saying we had damaged a fence panel and a car in the car park. When I ask why she thought it was my company vehicle she said there was a witness, who heard it but didn't see it and reported it three hours later. Upon examining the damaged car the paint transfer was from a blue car, my vehicle was a silver one! Yet the manager was still convinced it was my car. The "witness" said it was a people carrier they saw driving away but my vehicle is an estate car. My vehicle has a camera in it which is triggered, upon collision, bumps, hard breaking etc, to save a recording. There was no recording for this alleged collision. So with this in mind when the manager rang and demanded restitution for the damage I declined. The manager then said that my taxi vehicles were no longer allowed on the premises, meaning we would have to drop small children off on the highway, very dangerous and inappropriate action for a nursery to take. When this didn't coerce me to pay for the "alleged" damage. The owner put a slanderous and defamatory review on my Cab company google page. Even staying that she had spoken to me in person and I told her to get a cctv camera. This is a total lie and will be passed to my solicitors forthwith. But I urge all parents and future pupils of this nursery to take great care that you too do not falsely get accused.

Read on Google
Sewanu ADEBODUN-TOPLONOU
2 years ago

Good and very impressive environment for children development

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Stepping Stones. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: July 2010

  • January 2022Good
  • August 2015Outstanding
  • July 2010Outstanding

Frequently asked about Stepping Stones

Nearby day nurseries in GRANTHAM

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Stepping Stones.

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