Silver Steps Day Care

Play, conversation and growing independence give Silver Steps Day Care its character. Based at Francis Crittall Pavilion in Silver End, it accepts children from two until Reception age and has capacity for 26 children. Its offer centres on the preschool years, with friendships, communication and preparation for school running through the activities.

At its April 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. That is a dated assessment: the useful detail lies in how children used stories, practical activities and conversation, alongside the improvements requested in questioning and independence.

Attendance is term-time only, with a morning preschool session, a longer preschool day and a full-day option. The range gives families different ways to fit early education into their week.

Rooms and Ages

The Pre-school Room serves children aged two to four, with social skills and communication developed through turn-taking games, group discussion and opportunities to make friends. Card and board games give children a reason to share, wait and listen. These are practical foundations for joining a group and taking part in its routines.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, which brings together play, language, movement, relationships and early understanding of subjects such as number and literacy. It is the framework for children's education and care, rather than an extra programme. Development Matters, guidance used to plan activities and understand children's development, helps staff choose equipment and experiences suited to each child's stage.

Learning and Activities

Children choose some activities themselves; adults guide others. This creates opportunities both to pursue an interest and to practise joining in with a shared task. Observations help staff identify emerging skills and decide what to develop next, rather than treating preparation for school as a single set of exercises.

Mathematics takes a practical form. Sand and water equipment introduces capacity, while counting songs and discussion of shapes connect numbers with things children can handle and recognise. Library visits support literacy, and books may be borrowed to match the current learning theme. The emphasis is on using ideas, as well as hearing about them.

In April 2022, story work extended into construction, baking and making picture sequences. Children weighed ingredients for gingerbread biscuits, discussed changes during mixing and built a crossing for characters from a story. Those examples connected language, measurement and problem-solving within an activity children could follow.

Outdoor and Community Life

An outdoor area supports free-flow play, alongside activities chosen by children and led by adults. Paint, water, playdough and shaving foam add opportunities to explore materials. Spare clothing matters here: getting involved can be messy.

The indoor playroom and outdoor provision both contribute to the day. Children can work on a task they have selected, then take part in group experiences that introduce something new. This balance gives independence a practical place in the routine.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person, giving families a consistent contact for development and care. Settling is planned with parents, so staff and families agree how to help the child become comfortable in the setting. The relationship continues through regular spoken updates and arranged discussions about progress.

Records of achievement bring together children's interests, activities and developing skills. Parents contribute information about home life and learning, while staff use observations and photographs to document progress. This makes communication more useful than a general account of whether the day went well: it helps adults agree the next steps for the child.

The key person also prepares the written development check between 24 and 36 months, drawing on observations and contributions from parents and other professionals. Assessment summaries are made at intervals and at transitions, including moving on to school.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The staff team includes a setting SENCO role, providing a point of responsibility for special educational needs. Planning takes account of additional needs, and the nursery works within the SEND Code of Practice.

Morning snacks, milk and water are supplied; families provide a packed lunch for children staying over lunchtime. The nursery has a nut-free policy, which affects what can be packed.

Independence is part of snack time: children are encouraged to choose portions, prepare fruit and pour drinks. In April 2022, adults were doing much of the preparation and table setting, limiting children's chances to solve problems for themselves. The current routine gives these everyday tasks an explicit place in learning.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Francis Crittall Pavilion, Silver Street, Silver End, Witham, CM8 3QG. Opening hours are 8am to 4pm on weekdays, during term time.

Preschool sessions run from 9am to noon or from 9am to 3pm. Full Day Sessions run from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The morning option provides a shorter period of early education; the longer preschool day extends through lunchtime; the full day starts earlier and finishes later.

Applications begin by emailing admin@silverstepsdaycare.com to request a registration form. When an offer is made, families have one week to accept it before it may be withdrawn. A completed registration form is required before attendance begins.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded childcare and privately paid sessions are offered within the term-time model. Sessional fees are notified before the child starts. Private fees are payable in advance for each half term, so payment timing is part of the practical commitment.

Ending the agreement or reducing attendance requires at least one month's notice; withdrawal notice must be written. Fees are not refunded for absence through illness or holidays. Families should weigh those terms alongside the session they choose, especially where working arrangements may change.

• Questioning and independence. The April 2022 recommendations called for more thinking time and more opportunities for children to manage tasks themselves. On a visit, ask how staff pace questions and involve children in preparing snacks and group activities.
• Term-time timetable. Attendance ends by 4pm and follows term time. Families needing care through school holidays or later into the afternoon will need arrangements that fit those boundaries.
• Packed lunches and allergies. Children staying for lunch bring food from home, and the nursery applies a nut-free policy. Allergy-affected families should confirm current practice and how their child's needs will be handled.
• Commitment after an offer. Acceptance is required within one week, while reducing hours or leaving requires at least one month's notice. These terms matter if childcare needs are likely to change.

Silver Steps suits families seeking term-time preschool education, whether through morning sessions or a longer day. Its full-day option also serves those needing an earlier start and later finish within the 8am to 4pm window.

The clearest strengths in the offer are the key-person relationship, practical learning through play and a routine that explicitly includes children's independence. The April 2022 Good judgement provides a useful reference point, while its recommendations give families a concrete basis for discussing current practice. The decision rests on whether that preschool emphasis and term-time timetable fit the child and family.