Next Steps Nursery

Woodworking tools, water pipes and children designing climbing equipment give Next Steps Nursery an unusually practical character in its May 2023 account. At its inspection on 16 May 2023, Ofsted judged the nursery Outstanding overall and across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership.

On Desford Road in Enderby, Leicester, the nursery has capacity for 200 children. Children attending in May 2023 were aged one to four; that age range belongs to that visit.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play supports learning alongside everyday care. In May 2023, the nursery's curriculum followed children's interests, with staff extending what children already understood.

Practical exploration gave that learning substance. During May 2023, children used saws, hammers and drills with adult support, developing control through purposeful tasks. They compared wooden planks while planning climbing equipment, and recorded jumping distances through marks on paper. These activities connected physical play with measurement and making.

Water pumped through pipes became a problem to solve: children considered how to collect it, supported by staff questions. In the sandpit, taking turns filling a bowl brought cooperation into ordinary play. Adults also expanded babies' early speech by responding to their sounds and building sentences around emerging words. Learning happened through conversation as well as equipment.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff receiving continuing training and monthly local updates. Recognising concerns and knowing how to escalate them were part of that work.

In May 2023, staff helped unsettled children identify their feelings while offering comfort. Independence had practical expression too: younger children served food, poured drinks into open cups and learnt to find their beds when tired. These were everyday opportunities to practise doing things for themselves.

Children also considered risks during climbing and jumping, including where to position a landing mat. Parents contributed to policy updates, giving them a role in decisions about nursery routines.

The address is Desford Road, Enderby, Leicester LE19 4AT.

In May 2023, opening hours were 8am to 6pm, with provision running throughout the year except bank holidays. At that time, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These arrangements describe the inspection period.

• Practical exploration. May 2023 activities included woodworking and children planning climbing equipment. On a visit, discuss how staff introduce tools and support children in assessing risk.
• Matching the day to your child. The nursery has 200 places overall, while the May 2023 account describes children aged one to four. Which current age group and attendance pattern would fit your child?

Next Steps merits consideration for families drawn to practical, exploratory learning. Its May 2023 examples connect making, movement, language and independence in concrete ways. The Outstanding judgement belongs to that inspection; the strongest reason to explore the nursery is the substance beneath it, especially children solving problems and practising everyday skills.