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Stepping Stones Pre-school in Kettering

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Jul 2022)
·
4.5(2 parent reviews) ·Melton Community Centre, Cross Street, KETTERING, NN16 9DH · North Northamptonshire
Number of places
40 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2022
Local authority
North Northamptonshire

About this day nursery

Stepping Stones Pre-school in Kettering warmly welcomes children aged two to five, fostering an environment where small steps evolve into big adventures. The preschool is dedicated to nurturing happy, confident, and autonomous children, ensuring a smooth transition to Reception classes.

With a focus on kindness, courtesy, confidence, and humility, the staff at Stepping Stones encourages children to become conscientious and caring global citizens. The educational approach follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, delivered within a safe and supportive setting where learning through play is paramount.

The preschool values children's ideas and actively supports their explorations, cultivating a strong sense of responsibility from an early age. This commitment to holistic development helps children to flourish both academically and socially, preparing them for future successes.

Our ethos

Our most important preschool ethos is to ‘be kind’. We offer a rich and broad curriculum, following the Early Years Foundation Stage. We deliver this in a safe, secure, caring environment structured in the principles of learning through play. Staff and children alike have the core values of kindness, courtesy, confidence, humility, and learning to be givers and not takers.

What it's like

Children are excited when they arrive to see what is on offer for them at pre-school. Staff provide a very warm welcome and quickly notice and provide reassurance to upset children, helping them settle quickly. Children have close friendships, play exceptionally well together, and confidently invite others to join in their play, engaging in cooperative activities like building models with wooden bricks, which promotes deeper thinking and creative ideas.

Learning through playEarly Years Foundation Stage curriculumFocus on kindness and responsibility

Pricing & funding

Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday during term time, from 8.30am until 3pm.

Age range

two and five years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Stepping Stones Pre-school

Last inspected 11 July 2022 · Melanie Eastwell

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Children are excited when they arrive to see what is on offer for them at pre-school. Staff provide a very warm welcome and quickly notice and provide reassurance to upset children, helping them settle quickly. Children have close friendships, play exceptionally well together, and confidently invite others to join in their play, engaging in cooperative activities like building models with wooden bricks, which promotes deeper thinking and creative ideas.

Inspector highlights

  • The long established management team share the curriculum intent with staff extremely well.
  • Staff recognise children who need additional support and carefully respond to their needs.
  • All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language are learning to be confident communicators.
  • Staff use rich language that builds on children's vocabulary and understanding.
  • Children show continued persistence at tasks they find challenging.
Inspection #10138487 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents comment on how delighted their children are to help cook and eat them.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff recognise children who need additional support and carefully respond to their needs. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language are learning to be confident communicators. Staff provide individualised support for children depending on their unique needs, such as access to visual aids like picture cards to support understanding of daily routines and to indicate items they want to play with or how they are feeling.

Outdoor space

Children learn about nature and develop an understanding of how things grow as they spend time at the pre-school allotment. They grow peas and potatoes, discuss new seeds with staff, and plant seeds themselves in small pots to care for them before replanting them in the allotment.

Parent Reviews of Stepping Stones Pre-school

4.5
(2)
Laura Templeman
2 years ago

All 3 of my children used this facility over a period of nearly 10 years. Fantastic little preschool and competitive rates

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Stepping Stones Pre-school. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
  • July 2022Outstanding
  • November 2014Outstanding
  • September 2009Outstanding

Frequently asked about Stepping Stones Pre-school

About the setting

Stepping Stones Pre-school re-registered in 2009 and is managed as an unincorporated association. It is situated in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff, with seven holding appropriate early years qualifications between level 3 and 6, including one with early years teacher status. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

URN
EY390463
Registered person
Black, Jacqueline Ann
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Outstanding

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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