Stepping Stones Pre-School

Wildspace sessions take learning beyond the preschool grounds, while Paddington's Adventures brings family life back into the children's conversations. These two strands give Stepping Stones Pre-School in Leverington a clear character: outdoor exploration and close links between home and preschool.

Ofsted rated the setting Outstanding at its inspection on 10 June 2021. That is a dated judgement. Today's practical offer is an independent, parent-committee-managed preschool in the grounds of Leverington Primary School, with capacity for 16 children in total.

The setting operates during term time, with a shorter opening window on Mondays than on the other weekdays. For parents, the combination of a small overall capacity, school-ground location and substantial home-learning provision is the main draw.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage shapes learning across communication, physical development, relationships, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. In practice, staff follow children's interests in play and use individual learning targets to plan their next steps. This connects what a child enjoys with what they are working towards, rather than treating the day's activities as a single programme for everyone.

Independence has concrete expression here. Children practise putting on shoes, fastening coats and washing their hands; at snack and lunch they pour drinks, open packets and wash cups and bowls. These are useful everyday skills. Preparing for school includes being able to manage ordinary tasks, alongside the learning that happens through play.

Stories also travel between preschool and home. Story Sacks contain familiar stories to share with families, while Learning Packs can support an individual target through activities such as scissor practice or physical games. A free lending library lets children take a book home each week. The practical value is continuity: families have something specific to share or practise together.

Outdoor and Community Life

Wildspace sessions offer extended play in nature at an off-site location within walking distance. They follow Forest School principles through outdoor exploration and opportunities to develop independence. Sessions take place throughout the year, except in strong winds or lightning, so changing weather and seasons form part of the experience.

The preschool supplies waterproof clothing to wear over children's own clothes; families provide suitable layers, including warmer clothing in winter. Walks to the park and exploration of the village add further opportunities to learn about safety outside the setting. Outdoor learning is therefore tied to the local environment, rather than confined to an occasional special event.

Relationships and Communication

A home visit before starting gives children an early introduction to their key person. Two staff members attend, including that key person, for about 20–30 minutes during school opening times. Meeting at home gives families a familiar setting for those first conversations and lets the relationship begin before preschool attendance.

Once children attend, communication includes key-person emails with progress updates and home-learning ideas, newsletters and informal handovers. Parent meetings take place each term to discuss targets and profiles, and regular stay and play sessions let families join their child's play. These are different ways to stay involved: brief everyday exchanges sit alongside planned discussions about development.

Paddington's Adventures adds a lighter connection. Children can take Paddington Bear home for a weekend, and family photographs are added to a preschool scrapbook. Sharing those experiences with staff and other children makes home life part of the preschool conversation.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

My Smile gives children aged 3+ an opportunity to brush their teeth once a day at preschool, with toothbrushes and toothpaste supplied. It makes oral care part of an ordinary routine. Staff also help children talk through strong feelings and disagreements with peers, giving practical support with the social demands of group life.

Collection arrangements use an approved-adult list and a password for authorised adults. Staff escort children to the gate and release them only to a parent, carer or approved adult; changes to the usual collector must be communicated to staff. These are defined procedures, rather than a general assurance about safeguarding.

Fresh fruit and chopped vegetables are offered for morning and afternoon snacks, with milk and water accessible. The allergy policy asks families to notify the setting immediately when a child receives an allergy diagnosis.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8.45am to 12.45pm on Monday and 8.45am to 3.15pm from Tuesday to Friday, during term time only. Monday therefore needs a different family timetable from the rest of the week. School holidays and staff training days also need to be accounted for when arranging care.

Joining begins by requesting a registration form from the preschool. Once the preschool receives the completed form, the child is added to its waiting list. Families are contacted in the term before the intended start and invited to an open afternoon. A place is secured when the confirmation and parental agreement have been signed and returned. Priority goes to Leverington village applications and children due to start mainstream school the following September.

Getting There

Stepping Stones occupies the grounds of Leverington Primary School on Church Road, Leverington, Wisbech. It is an independent preschool despite sharing the school grounds. Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place; families still use the local authority admissions process.

The preschool can be contacted by telephone on 01945 467576 or through its contact form. The school-ground setting is relevant to location, but should be kept separate from the decision about a child's eventual school place.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funding routes include two-year funding for working parents and low-income families, and 30 hours of Free Funding, subject to the relevant eligibility criteria. Attendance is term time. Early Years Pupil Premium is paid to the preschool for eligible children, with support including home-learning resources, home visits and additional resources.

Private childcare is charged by the hour, and current prices come in the preschool's written quotation. Fees remain payable for an absence without notice or a short absence; prolonged absences should be discussed with the committee.

Snacks have a separate voluntary contribution each term, which also supports ingredients for cooking activities. This is a contribution families are asked to make, rather than a compulsory snack charge. The funding and fees information sets out these arrangements.

• Term-time timetable. Monday closes at 12.45pm, while the other weekdays close at 3.15pm. Families needing holiday care or later afternoons will need arrangements that fit those boundaries.
• Location details. The address uses PE13 5DE in the provider record and PE13 5DD in the preschool's contact details, which also use Church End rather than Church Road. Confirm the correct destination when arranging a visit.
• Allergies and personal supplies. The preschool asks for immediate notification of an allergy diagnosis. At the visit, discuss your child's allergy plan and which personal care supplies to bring.
• Parent involvement. A voluntary parent and guardian committee manages the charity, and the preschool depends financially on fundraising. Consider whether committee membership or fundraising participation would fit your family.

Stepping Stones suits families seeking term-time preschool with outdoor exploration, practical independence and regular connections between learning at home and in the setting. Wildspace, My Smile and the lending library make that offer concrete. The Outstanding judgement dates to June 2021; the current decision rests equally on the timetable and family involvement. Monday's shorter opening window and the longer Tuesday-to-Friday hours create different practical demands across the week.