Bolsover First Steps Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Chesterfield for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023. Open since 2003, with 24 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 Derbyshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Derbyshire 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
S44 6NGWhat 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, 15 September 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enthusiastically and independently walk into the pre-school, happy and ready to learn. Staff greet them at the door and support them to quickly engage in the activities that have been organised for them. Staff support children to feel confident about entering nursery by inviting them to visit prior to starting with their parents. This helps children to become familiar with staff and the environment and to feel safe and secure before they separate from their parents.
Staff plan activities to support children to make progress in their learning, such as developing their mathematical skills. For example, staff sing number rhymes and encourage children to count how many fingers they are holding up to represent the number of ducks left. They talk about one less as the ducks swim away, supporting children to use mathematical language as they play.
Children's behaviour is consistently good. They are friendly and sociable towards others and enjoy being independent and helpful. Toddlers confidently choose their own snack and put their plates in the washing-up bowl when they have finished.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to strengthen their support for children's language skills, by encouraging children to use new words as they play n support staff to provide children with further opportunities to make independent choices in their play.
- 15 September 2023Good
- 19 September 2017Good
- 24 September 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bolsover First Steps Pre-School
- 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.