Stepping Stones of Sopley
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Christchurch for babies from 9 months up to 5 year olds, open 08:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. £8.95 an hour for under 2 year olds, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2023. Open since 2013, with 30 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Term time only, 38 weeks a year.
| Age | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 year oldsbirth to 2y | £8.95under 2 year olds | |
| 2 year olds2y to 3y | £7.902 year olds | |
| 3-4 year olds3y to 4y | £6.253-4 year olds |
Before you start
One-off charges to take a place.
- £6.00 Red T-shirtslimited stock at present
- £8.00 Red Polo Shirts
- £10.00 Red Sweat Shirts
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £3.00 a day sustainability feevoluntary
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
Funded hours
Some children from 9 months old until four year olds are entitled to free part-time early years education (EYE). After your child's second birthday you can apply for up to 15 hours funding subject to meeting Hampshire County Council criteria, please contact us for details. 3-4 years Universal entitlement (15 hours childcare) After your child’s third birthday, they are entitled to receive Early Yea.
Worth knowing. We also support EYPP (Early Years Pupil Premium) and Disability Access Fund. In order to secure funding you will be asked to complete a ‘Parent Declaration’ form at the beginning of each term which we will supply to you.
What childcare usually costs in Hampshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hampshire 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
BH23 8DDWhat 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.
- 31 August 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 24 March 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 6 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are confident to come into the welcoming nursery. Staff greet children warmly and support them to be independent. For example, staff encourage them to hang their coats up and put their lunch boxes away. Children develop close friendships and learn how to cooperate in their play. For instance, they happily work together taking turns to build a wall with large bricks, and give each other praise as they create collages.
Staff know their key children particularly well and are able to recognise when they need reassurance. For example, staff comfort children while supporting and encouraging them to try different activities. They provide all children with a range of activities that are planned to meet their individual needs and interests. For instance, children show a keen interest in the birds and insects in the garden and enjoy making bird feeders. Children make good progress in their learning and development.
Staff support children to develop their understanding of risk. Staff teach children how to use equipment and help them to learn how to stay safe. For example, staff demonstrate how to use scissors safely and talk about being aware of others when riding the bicycles.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- build further on staff's understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to supporting children's care and learning, to help to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level n strengthen staff practice in allowing children enough time to think things through and share their ideas, to further develop their communication skills.
- 6 December 2023Good
- 18 July 2023Inadequate
- 18 October 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stones of Sopley
- Nappies
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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £8.95 an hour still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.