First Steps Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Luton for babies from 9 months up to school age, open 09:00 to 15:45, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2022. Open since 2011, with 69 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
30 hours per week for eligible working parents of children aged nine months up to three-years-old from September 2025; 15 hours for 2-year-olds with additional support; universal 15 hours for 3-4 year olds; 30 hours for eligible parents.
Worth knowing. All entitlements apply over 38 weeks of the year, though providers have the option of 'stretching' the offers over a longer period of time.
What childcare usually costs in Luton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Luton 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
LU3 1AHWhat 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, 12 July 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children come in happily to this pre-school, clearly recognising that they are valued as individuals. They are becoming confident, independent learners and respond to the positive example and high expectations of staff. Children work cooperatively.
For example, they join magnetic construction pieces to make a tall tower, remembering the Great Wall of China they recently talked about. Children are kind and often help their friends, for example in finding the correct card when playing a game. Children put their work on the display boards, showing pride in their achievements. They gain a good knowledge of how to keep themselves safe and healthy. Ongoing discussions help them to learn about good oral hygiene.
Children are building a good understanding of their emotions. Staff support them in relating these to everyday life. For example, children release butterflies and relate this to themselves leaving the nursery. When some of the butterflies come back, they link this to perhaps feeling that they want to come back to nursery. They go on to talk about how much they have grown and can move on to more learning in school. Staff have a sensitive understanding of the possible effects of the COVID19 lockdowns. They provide additional support for children to aid them in developing skills in communication, enjoying books and writing.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff in extending the opportunities that aid children in exploring further and developing their skills in thinking critically and solving problems n enhance the use of outdoor areas to offer children who prefer to learn outside further play and learning opportunities.
- 12 July 2022Good
- 16 September 2021Needs improvement
- 21 September 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for First Steps Pre-School
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.