Stepping Stones
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Preston 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2024. Open since 2009, with 32 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 Lancashire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Lancashire 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
PR4 2TJWhat 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, 2 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children develop a sense of belonging as they wear their Stepping Stones uniforms with pride. They feel secure and quickly form attachments with staff. Children enjoy their time at nursery and learn to make friends and to nurture their friendships.
Staff promote children's self-esteem and encourage them to express their opinions.
For instance, staff include children in discussions about plans for the garden.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- monitor children's next steps closely to ensure they are focused on what each child needs to learn next n continue to embed hygiene routines even further to help children consistently learn to understand and manage their own self-care needs.
- 2 May 2024Good
- 29 June 2018Good
- 20 November 2014Good
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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.