Forward Steps (Yorkshire) Ltd
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Barnsley for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2022. Open since 2012, with 42 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 Barnsley
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Barnsley 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
S73 8TUWhat 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, 11 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, safe and secure in this fun and engaging setting. They seek out staff to join in with their play and are keen to show visitors what they are doing. Staff have high expectations for all children's learning, including those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and who speak English as an additional language. Staff are good role models and interact positively with children. They give children plenty of praise and encouragement as they play. This helps children to develop a can-do attitude towards their learning. Children are eager to do things for themselves and try out new skills. For example, babies persist until they successfully fit animal shapes into a puzzle.
Staff celebrate children's achievements with smiles and cheers. Children are confident and independent. They successfully meet their own care needs, such as washing their hands before they eat. Older children pour their own water and serve their own lunch as they practise self-care skills. Children are well behaved and are aware of what is expected of them. Older children talk about the setting's 'golden rules' and follow them well. They show good listening skills as they engage in small-group activities where they practise sharing and taking turns. Babies learn about kindness and gently take care of soft toys.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan more opportunities for older children to choose their own play and activities to help them to consolidate and enrich their own learning.
- 11 February 2022Good
- 30 June 2016Good
- 17 December 2012Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Forward Steps (Yorkshire) Ltd
- 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.