Who We Are
Little Stepping Stones For Your Child
Make your first step, the right step…
Ofsted Inspection
In February 2014, Ofsted officially published our Inspection Report confirming Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries as “Good” on all three areas of its inspection. You can view the copy of our full Inspection Report, included at the end of our Prospectus.
All-Inclusive Service
At Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries, there are no hidden or extra costs. Everything from nappies to sun hats are included in your child’s monthly fees, so you can stay stress free.
A Clear & Transparent Fee Structure
We understand that as parents/carers it’s important that we give you a clear picture of the financial commitment ahead. We’ve also tried to help by discounting our full-time and day rates, as well as offering additional discounts for siblings who are also attending our nursery at the same time.
Add-On Hours
Apart from our standard nursery hours from 8 am till 6 pm, parents can also add additional hours using the Early Bird (7 am till 8 am) and Night Owl (6 pm till 7 pm) add-ons.
Home Visits
Before your child starts at Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries, one of our nurses will visit you and your child at home. This gives us the opportunity to get to know you and your child and for your child to get to know us. We would also use this time to fill out any remaining forms, collect photos for our safe collection system and to inform you on how you can get involved in your child’s experiences at the nursery – after all the nursery is not just for your child but for you as well.
Settling In
We settle your child from 2 weeks prior to their start date. The dates and schedule will be discussed during our home visit. The child’s first session will be for an hour and this will then increase over the two weeks until you are confident that your child has settled in.
Focus Activity | Inside & Outside
(13:30 – 15:00 pm)
New activities will be set up to suit the children’s needs, much the same as the morning Focus Activities.
Outdoors Play
Children enjoy going to the park, library and the shopping centre on a regular basis. We take them to play Teddy Tennis a few times a week, where they learn new skills with the help of a Tennis coach – how to hit a ball, hold a bat, listening skills and working in a team.
Partnership with
Parents/Careers
We encourage parents/carers to develop a close partnership with us, as we consider this to be one of the most important elements contributing to each child’s overall well-being and development. We aim to keep you as fully informed as possible by communicating with you on a daily basis and giving you feedback as to how your child’s day went. We understand that it’s not always easy for parents/carers to visit our nursery, which is why we ensure that you are always well informed of updates, planned activities and event reminders through our monthly newsletter, website and email alerts.
Safety First
Access to our nursery is via an intercom system that is CCTV monitored. At Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries, we operate a strict collection policy with the use of passwords and photos of pre-nominated adults for each child. As part of our Safeguarding Policy, we enforce a strict “No Mobile Phone & Camera Policy” at the nursery, however for emergencies/trips, we issue our nursery manager with a mobile phone without recording or camera facilities.
Step to I.T.
As well as having access to traditional toys and games, children at Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries are also able to interact with a range of Information Technology. We have a dedicated and controlled IT area where children are encouraged to use the iMac and iPads to learn about the world, different cultures, create music, make stories and enjoy interactive learning apps, all whilst introducing them to the world of technology. Using the in-built projector, children can also easily share their newly created stories with their peers, helping them to develop confidence and independent learning skills.
Outdoor Activities
Little Stepping Stones is located directly opposite to King George’s Park which has three separate well-equipped play areas as well as a large grass area for ball games and picnics. The park also has a small lake with a fountain, ducks and moorhens. This provides the perfect setting for our children to connect with nature, explore and be more active. Outdoor activities for all age groups are scheduled through the day, as this helps them become more engaged with their learning, develop their social skills, experience different seasons and most importantly, have fun!
Our Staff
What really makes our nursery so special are the people who work for us! We understand that children learn best when looked after by adults who are suitable, well qualified and who fully understand the importance of their role. That is why all our staff are trained to at least a Level 3 qualification and are provided with additional training opportunities to support and build on our Early Year Foundation Stage curriculum. All staff are recruited subject to two employment references and must hold a valid Enhanced DBS check – the highest level of checking available, before starting at the nursery.
Healthy Eating
All food served in the nursery is freshly cooked daily and is focused on healthy eating. By working in conjunction with parents/carers, our cook is able to devise delicious homemade menus to provide a nutritious and carefully balanced diet. Our children are served fresh fruit and vegetables every day and have access to drinking water in each room. We are able to cater for all dietary or cultural requirements and our monthly menus can be viewed on our website/notice board. Parents/carers with babies are also provided with a daily report sheet with information on their meals, sleep and changing times.
Childcare Funding
We understand that as parents/carers you want to select the best childcare and education that you are able to afford. Hence it is useful to be aware of what financial help is available. Below we have briefly outlined details of the assistance that may be available to you – all of which are accepted at Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries.
Childcare Vouchers
Childcare vouchers is a scheme some employers offer to help working parents save on registered childcare costs. Childcare vouchers are not means tested and are available to all working parents whose employers operate childcare voucher schemes. These schemes can save you National Insurance and Income Tax as a set weekly amount can be deducted from your salary and used to provide childcare vouchers for the same amount. This amount is deducted from the gross salary and is exempt from National Insurance and Income Tax. Our nursery accepts childcare vouchers.
Tax Credits (Child Benefit)
Nine out of ten families are eligible for some financial assistance through the Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. The amount you receive will depend on your circumstances. Working Tax Credit includes a childcare element to help families who are working and spending money on childcare.
Nursery Education Grant
The Government introduced the Nursery Education Grant to provide a free early education place for most 3 year olds and all 4 year olds. A grant may therefore be available for your child. The amount available per child changes from year to year depending on government funding. Our Nursery Manager will be able to confirm the current amount to you and to explain how the system works.
Extra-curricular Activities
In addition to planned daily activities based around the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, parents can choose to enroll their children for extra curricula activities such as language classes and advanced I.T. Additionally, at Little Stepping Stones Day Nurseries, we believe in creating learning opportunities by offering environments and activities that inspire our children’s imagination – hence we aim to take our children on “Stepping Stones Adventures” to aquariums and zoos, at least twice a year.
