Stepping Stones Nursery School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Thames Ditton for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2025. Open since 1996, with 62 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 Surrey
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Surrey 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
KT7 0DRWhat 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, 30 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders and staff place children at the heart of everything they do. They work tirelessly to create a happy, inviting and nurturing setting where outcomes for children are consistently good. Staff are particularly attentive to children's individual needs and their emotional well-being. They wholeheartedly recognise that children who feel safe and secure confidently acquire new skills, such as managing their self-care. Younger children are encouraged to practise putting on their coats and older children can do up their coat zips with ease before going out.
The very experienced leaders show high aspirations for all children. They have a thoughtfully designed curriculum in place, which is understood by staff. Children enjoy the exciting activities; for example, they take great delight in participating in the sensory and creative opportunities on offer. This extends to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who are provided with targeted plans of support to meet their developmental needs. The ambitious educational programmes prepare children well for their eventual move to school.
All staff are extremely positive role models, showing high expectations for children's behaviour. They gently guide younger children to share their toys and give older children the time and space to negotiate the best ways to take turns.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- adapt planning, organisation and delivery of adult-led activities to ensure that these are more finely tuned to suit the individual learning needs of each child n enhance professional development opportunities to address minor inconsistencies in individual staff's practice.
- 30 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 20 May 2019Outstanding
- 13 April 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stones Nursery School
- 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.