Stepping Stones Nursery School
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Esher for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in April 2022. Open since 2014, 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 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
KT10 0BDWhat 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 April 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this exceptionally supportive and inclusive environment. They demonstrate that they feel extremely safe and cared for by fully engaging with all activities, adults and their peers. Huge smiles, squeals of glee and shouts of wonder can be seen and heard from children throughout the day. Staff support children to develop an excellent understanding of rules and boundaries. Children show extremely high levels of self-regulation and build strong relationships. For example, all children share resources, have excellent manners and behave exceptionally well.
Children learn new vocabulary through sharply focused interactions planned by staff. For example, as children explore worms in the soil, staff introduce words such as 'segment,' 'saddle' and 'minerals'. Children develop a love of reading through staff's inspiring and engaging storytelling and skilled use of props. Children rub their hands together in excitement of another story. Children have high levels of self-esteem and confidence. Staff offer praise and encourage children skilfully.
Children show extremely high levels of concentration and mathematical knowledge.
- 22 April 2022Outstanding
- 11 July 2016Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.