Stepping Stones
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Chester for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2025. Open since 1982, with 41 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 Cheshire West and Chester
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cheshire West and Chester 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
CH1 5JGWhat 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, 17 July 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happily and settle quickly into pre-school. They are greeted by warm, smiling staff who guide them through familiar routines. The environment is thoughtfully planned to offer a wide range of meaningful play opportunities. For example, outside, children explore making potions. They know how to use pipettes to squeeze water, helping build the small muscles in their hands. Staff encourage children to use their senses to smell and feel flowers and herbs.
Children form warm, trusting relationships with staff, who know them well and respond to their individual needs. Staff are attentive and nurturing as they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They work closely with families and professionals to ensure all children feel safe and included.
The calm atmosphere allows children with SEND to access the environment. All children show kindness and respect and give space when needed. This inclusive ethos supports all children to engage in learning and make good progress.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff understanding of high-quality questioning to ensure all children benefit from meaningful interactions that consistently extend their thinking and language skills.
- 17 July 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 6 November 2019Good
- 16 October 2014Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stones
- 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.