First Steps Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Windsor for children from birth to 8+, open 08:45 to 15:15, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 1999, with 36 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 Windsor and Maidenhead
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Windsor and Maidenhead 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
SL4 5NWWhat 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, 13 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children with warm smiles and chatter with them about their morning.
Children are happy and excitedly wave goodbye to their parents as they enter the homely pre-school. Staff and children share close and caring bonds, which helps children to feel safe and secure. For example, children snuggle with their key persons as they share stories. Children are happy to approach staff for comfort and reassurance when they need it.
Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. Staff promote positive behaviour rules in play. For example, they expertly intervene when children struggle to take turns with toy keys. They quickly model how to ask for a turn with a toy and explain the emotions children are going through, such as 'sad'. Children are learning the skills they need to resolve conflicts between themselves.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve the quality of teaching for the youngest children to ensure they are consistently challenged in their learning and able to build on their existing knowledge and skills n increase opportunities for children who speak EAL to develop confidence and engage in play with others.
- 13 July 2023Good
- 16 January 2018Good
- 1 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.