Stepping Stones Pre-School York
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in York for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 16:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023. Open since 2000, with 40 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 York
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in York 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
YO32 5SRWhat 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, 8 September 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are very happy and settled at this friendly and welcoming setting. Children form strong bonds with staff, who are responsive, respectful, caring and kind. Staff support children's personal, social and emotional development well. They encourage children to share and take turns as they explore with paint and dough.
They support new children to settle quickly. For example, staff put toy diggers into the sandpit ready for a child's first day, after learning from parents that these are their favourite toys. Children are busy engaged in their activities and play cooperatively with their friends. Staff praise and encourage them. They invite children to put star-shaped stickers onto a display to recognise and celebrate their achievements. This helps build children's confidence and self-esteem.
Staff provide good support for children's growing independence. They teach them to wash their hands, chop their fruit at snack time and pour their own drinks. Staff know children well. They have fun together and obviously enjoy each other's company. Staff plan exciting experiences for children that they know will interest them and extend their learning. For example, children plant sunflowers and learn about the life cycle of a butterfly first-hand.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- introduce and model more detailed and descriptive language to children as they play.
- 8 September 2023Good
- 27 February 2018Good
- 12 February 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Stepping Stones Pre-School York
- 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.