Second Steps Day Nursery

In February 2025, baby-room ceilings hung with children's creations, a garden art studio and children helping themselves to meals gave Second Steps Day Nursery a clear character: learning reached beyond an activity table. On Durham Road in Laindon, Basildon, it combines separate age-group spaces with a key-person approach that starts with family routines, interests and languages. Small acts of independence matter here.

At its 5 February 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding overall and for the quality of education. The practical examples beneath that judgement are useful: in February 2025, children practised dressing, pouring drinks and serving food, while adults supported communication from babyhood. These are everyday skills rather than isolated activities, giving children repeated opportunities to participate in their own care.

The nursery accepts children from two months to five years. Full-day, morning and afternoon attendance sit within an all-year offer, making it relevant to families with different working patterns rather than a single daily timetable.

Rooms and Ages

Ladybirds accommodates the youngest children, from birth to two, across two rooms, each with a maximum of 12; its emphasis is helping babies settle with familiar care. That individual-room limit is worth distinguishing from the size of the nursery as a whole. For parents choosing baby care, the immediate room matters more than a headline total.

Butterflies, for two- to three-year-olds, has capacity for 16 and its own garden that children can move into freely, alongside learning paced to each child's development. Pre-school, for three- to five-year-olds, spans two rooms accommodating up to 32 together, with two side gardens and opportunities to explore local parks and the library. Outdoor access is attached to these older children's spaces, rather than being described only as a whole-nursery facility.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guides children's learning across seven areas, with observations used to plan what each child works on next. This is the shared early-years framework, not an extra programme unique to Second Steps. Here, the practical connection is between a child's interests, the activities staff plan and the next steps recorded by their key person.

In February 2025, children could rearrange resources to develop their play, with adults explaining activities. Families could borrow books, games and resources, extending learning into home life.

The baby environment had its own thoughtful detail in February 2025. Creations were suspended overhead because babies sometimes explore their surroundings while lying down. Food-based sensory activities gave them materials to investigate, and wheat-free flour was used for play dough when children with wheat allergies attended. These examples belong to that inspection period; they illustrate how room design and activity planning took account of the children using them.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outside play includes ball games and parachute activities, with suitable clothing allowing children to go outdoors in different weather. Local walks depend on the weather and parental permission. For families, that makes outdoor clothing part of the nursery routine rather than an occasional extra.

In February 2025, repeated garden visits brought painting into the art studio and offered opportunities for physical play. Walks to the library also connected learning with places beyond the premises. The current Pre-school arrangement continues to include local parks, library visits and walks, giving older children experiences away from their usual rooms without claiming a fixed trip schedule.

Relationships and Communication

Settling is shaped around the child, with parents able to spend a longer or shorter period alongside them. The All About Me booklet records starting points, family background and languages used at home, while introducing the key person who will follow the child's development. It gives the relationship a practical starting point: staff learn about the child from the people who know them best.

Learning Journeys bring together observations and photographs, and parents can contribute moments from home. The key person plans next steps alongside this record, so communication is linked to what happens next in the child's day. Parents can also telephone during the day to hear how their child is settling, and policies are kept in the foyer with copies supplied by email on request.

Room changes receive their own preparation. The existing key person passes on developmental information and the child's preferences to the next key person, and supports settling during the child's usual attendance days. Familiarity therefore travels with the child, rather than leaving the next room to start from scratch.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised support for children with SEND, including plans developed with parents and collaboration with other professionals. The current support structure includes a SENCO and an equality co-ordinator, with parental permission required before SEND information is shared with outside agencies. These are specific mechanisms for discussing additional needs, rather than a blanket promise about every child's experience.

In February 2025, adults learned key words from children's home languages, with parents helping them pronounce them, and translated room labels gave children familiar written words. The combination matters: family knowledge fed into both conversations and the physical learning environment.

Menus are planned weekly around dietary needs, with a vegetarian alternative and adjustments for allergies or religious requirements. Babies' meal routines follow the arrangements families use at home, while older children have scheduled meals and snacks.

Preparation for school includes a transition report covering development, interests and abilities, which parents see before it is passed on. Teachers are invited to meet children at nursery, and school photographs and spare uniforms help children become familiar with the next stage. This is preparation for a change of setting, not an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

Second Steps operates from Harrison House, Durham Road, Laindon, SS15 6PH. Opening hours are 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, across 52 weeks, with public bank holiday closures.

Bookings include full days from 7am to 7pm, morning sessions from 7am to 1pm and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 7pm. Full-time, part-time and shift arrangements are offered, and additional hours can be attached to sessions. The charging structure uses a session as its minimum daily unit; hourly charging applies when extra hours are added to a session. A shorter stay therefore needs to be considered against that session-based structure.

Enquiries can be made on 01268 413143 or by email to info@secondstepsdurhamroad.com. A prospectus can be emailed or collected during a nursery visit.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded sessions are offered for two-, three- and four-year-olds, alongside privately paid childcare. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. Sibling and NHS-worker discounts require proof, so families considering either reduction need to include that condition when comparing their costs.

A registration fee applies where applicable, with registration forms returned during settling. The important comparison is the complete attendance arrangement: the session chosen, any hours added to it and the terms attached to funding or discounts.

• Baby-room scale. Ladybirds is divided between two rooms, each holding up to 12. During a visit, ask how the two spaces are used and how your baby's daily routine would fit into them.
• Session-based charging. Morning and afternoon sessions each have a defined window, and extra hours can be added. Compare the written quotation against your actual collection times, especially if your working day varies.
• Funded-place costs. Two-, three- and four-year-old funded sessions are offered. Ask how funded hours are scheduled and what arrangements apply to meals and non-food consumables.
• Dietary arrangements. Menus accommodate allergies and religious requirements, and vegetarian food is available. Allergy-affected families should confirm current food preparation and sensory-play arrangements for their child.

Second Steps suits families seeking either full-day attendance or morning and afternoon sessions, with year-round opening and a settling process that involves parents directly. Its strongest features are tangible: capped individual baby rooms, garden access for older age groups and learning records connected to a named key person.

The February 2025 Outstanding judgement gives the quality assessment a clear date. The detail beneath it is more useful than the label alone: independence practised through everyday tasks, books shared with home and attention to children's languages. For parents who value that combination of practical learning and family involvement, Second Steps merits consideration, with the session-based quotation an essential part of the decision.