Stepping Stones Playgroup
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Petersfield 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2022. Open since 2000, with 26 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 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
GU32 2ANWhat 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, 17 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children greet each other with delight when they arrive. They settle into activities extremely quickly. Children have exceptional relationships with all staff and especially their key person. The buddy system is securely in place, which means all children feel safe and secure even if their key person is away. Children flourish and are exceedingly happy. Staff have exceptionally high expectations of children. They are superb role models. Children thrive and behave impeccably well. They have very high levels of self-esteem and confidence. Children's individual efforts are celebrated frequently. Staff ensure praise is unique to each child.
Children have a superb understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. They wipe their noses, put the tissue in the bin and then wash their hands thoroughly.
Children explain that they have to wash their hands because of the 'germs'.
- 17 February 2022Outstanding
- 22 April 2015Outstanding
- 28 May 2010Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stones Playgroup
- 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.