Footsteps Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Oswestry for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2003, with 62 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 Shropshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Shropshire 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
SY11 4QBWhat 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, 8 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and excited to attend this nurturing setting. The key-person system ensures that staff know the children well. Children form strong bonds with staff, who support and care for their well-being. New children enjoy receiving cuddles and support from staff. Children settle quickly, feel safe and secure and are excited to play with their friends. Staff develop activities that build on children's interests. Children are motivated and engage with learning well. Staff promote children's independence effectively through everyday activities. Babies help to tidy away toys. Toddlers start to use the toilet and learn to wash their hands. Preschool children scrape their plates after lunch and clear away their knives and forks.
Staff create a well-equipped learning environment that ensures the children benefit from valuable experiences, both indoors and outdoors. Babies use a range of senses to explore treasure baskets and 'shiny' objects. Toddlers access the outdoors as they excitedly exclaim that they are 'going on a bear hunt'. Pre-school children use their fine motor skills as they manipulate play dough into 'poppies' for
Remembrance Day. Staff skilfully support children and help them to develop the skills needed for their future learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- increase opportunities for children to explore their own ideas, to develop their thinking skills even further n provide children with consistent messages about healthy eating, to further support their understanding about healthy lifestyles.
- 8 November 2022Good
- 9 February 2017Good
- 12 September 2016Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Footsteps Nursery
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.