Step By Step Nursery
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2022. Open since 2008, with 52 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 Tower Hamlets
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Tower Hamlets 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
E1W 2QLWhat 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, 25 January 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all ages settle quickly into the safe and welcoming environment. They confidently say goodbye to their parents at the door and the friendly staff warmly greet them. Children have strong attachments with their key person, which ensures that they are growing in confidence and self-esteem. For example, young babies confidently explore the environment, they enjoy cuddles and receive reassurance when needed. When babies are hungry or tired, staff respond promptly.
Partnership working with parents is well embedded within the nursery. Parents speak highly of the staff and particularly value how much they have helped with the good progress children are making. Staff make good use of opportunities to involve parents and carers, and the regular exchange of information keeps them up to date with what is happening at the nursery. This is really appreciated, as many parents and carers have not been inside the nursery for some time due to the
Children confidently choose from a selection of good resources, indoors and outside. Staff know children's interests and plan learning experiences to meet their needs. For example, they provide toddlers with plenty of space and opportunities to strengthen their walking skills. Older children have ample opportunities to engage in conversations, share their views and ideas and build on their vocabulary and communication skills.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- increase opportunities for children to carry out tasks independently n build on children's natural curiosity to learn and provide activities that challenge children's thinking skills, particularly in relation to older children.
- 25 January 2022Good
- 8 June 2018Good
- 25 May 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Step By Step 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.