Stepping Stones Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Truro for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2022. Open since 1993, with 18 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 Cornwall
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cornwall 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
TR4 8LPWhat 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, 9 June 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are extremely happy and confident in this setting. Every child, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make excellent progress. This is because there is a very ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum in place. Adults use their excellent knowledge of child development and of the children to accurately assess and plan for each child. The routine and activities carefully match the interests and ability of each child. This means children are excited and motivated to learn. Children engage deeply in activities as they test their own ideas and persist with challenges. For example, children want to make aeroplanes from junk. They clearly explain their ideas and adults encourage them to work out a way to achieve these. Adults expertly offer suggestions and help children to recall where to find the tools and materials they need to create their model, such as scissors and tape.
All children behave extremely well. They work collaboratively and show lots of respect towards others and the environment. Children feel very safe and secure as they know that the adults care deeply about them. Children know the routine well and happily follow it. They enthusiastically take part in the well-planned adult-led activities, such as circle time. They also quickly settle to self-chosen activities when the routine allows.
- 9 June 2022Outstanding
- 10 May 2017Good
- 19 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stones Pre-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.