Big Steps Childcare Limited
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Salford for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023. Open since 2015, with 28 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Salford
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Salford from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
M6 6ESWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 27 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff provide a warm and friendly welcome to children and their families. The nursery is an integral part of the local community. Children are happy, safe and eager to see their friends. They say hello to the staff, whom they consider their
'best friends'. Staff gather detailed information from parents about each child prior to them attending. This information is used effectively to ensure that children's unique needs are met. Staff ensure that activities and toys that children enjoy are available on arrival. This helps children to settle quickly, ready to begin learning.
Staff have high expectations for all children. They recognise the importance of developing children's communication skills. Staff talk to children and introduce new vocabulary to help extend children's speaking skills. For example, children are encouraged to repeat new words, such as 'over' and 'under', as they manoeuvre puppets to retell a favourite story. Children make good progress from their starting points. Staff skilfully support children to understand their feelings and encourage them to respond to each other with kindness and respect. Children form close friendships with each other and staff. They behave well for their age.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to clearly and consistently identify what children are intended to know, or be able to do, as a result of participating in activities - enhance the already good staff supervision arrangements and provide sharply focused opportunities for staff to share their skills and learn from each other.
- 27 November 2023Good
- 12 February 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Big Steps Childcare Limited
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.