Stepping Stones Day Nursery
Good★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Manchester for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2025. Open since 2006, with 65 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 Trafford
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Trafford 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
M41 9FJWhat 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, 22 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and say they feel loved in this friendly nursery. Staff offer kind and caring relationships to children and their families. This helps all babies and children to feel secure and settled in the nursery. From the basis of these strong relationships staff get to know children well and can provide care and education to meet their individual needs.
Since the last inspection the provider has made improvements. Leaders have introduced a clear and sequenced curriculum. The processes for effective professional development for staff have been implemented. These changes have helped staff to provide a higher quality of education for children. As a result, children are making good progress in their learning and development. For example, babies learn the actions of their favourite rhymes. Toddlers master how to move their bodies and the oldest children confidently talk about their feelings. Children are well prepared for the next steps in their education.
Staff are positive role models. Children learn to behave co-operatively with one another. For instance, children wait patiently for their turns and talk kindly to others. Children particularly enjoy exploring the exciting outdoor area that has been designed to stimulate their senses. Children smile as they splash in puddles and spot planes in the sky.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to develop their teaching skills to help children learn how to concentrate and listen during group activities n continue to develop the professional development programme for staff to help staff receive individualised and relevant coaching that helps them to continually improve outcomes for children.
- 22 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 13 February 2024Needs improvement
- 28 March 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stones Day 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.