Stepping Stone Pre School (Knebworth)
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Knebworth for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2012, with 26 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 Hertfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hertfordshire 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
SG3 6AHWhat 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, 23 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at this pre-school happy and eager to start their day. They confidently wave goodbye as they walk through the gates independently. Children recognise their own pegs, hang up their bags and change their shoes. Staff warmly welcome children, providing hugs, praise and support where needed, asking after siblings and other family members.
Staff provide a wide range of purposeful activities for children to explore, play and learn. Children make independent choices, such as designing school uniforms with a variety of materials or constructing houses using shared resources. Others choose to spend time in the 'reading nook', selecting books to enjoy with attentive staff.
The setting has a well-structured curriculum that supports children's physical development effectively. Children strengthen their core muscles during weekly sensory music-and-movement sessions. They laugh and smile as they use voile scarves to catch bubbles. Staff repeat these activities between sessions to reinforce learning. Staff have a good understanding of the importance of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination to prepare children for writing. They provide opportunities to hammer wooden pegs into slots, encouraging precision, and for children to strengthen their hand muscles by squashing and squeezing play dough.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review and improve daily routines and transitions, so children remain consistently focused and engaged in their learning n review the organisation and planning for outdoor activities to maximise children's learning when they are outdoors.
- 23 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 9 September 2019Good
- 25 October 2012Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stone Pre School (Knebworth)
- 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.