Stepping Stones Nursery

Grassed balconies for the youngest children, a sensory room for toddlers and a canopy over preschool outdoor space give Stepping Stones Nursery a recognisable character. This Swalwell setting separates its day into age-related rooms, with independence becoming more prominent as children move towards school. The physical differences matter: outdoor access and opportunities to explore change with each stage.

At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that emerging additional needs were identified promptly, with targeted support organised alongside parents and professionals. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of every aspect of care today. The assessment also identified two practical weaknesses: activities needed closer adjustment to individual learning needs, and younger children needed group activities with fewer distractions.

The nursery accepts children from 2 months to 5 years and has 94 places in total. Full-day attendance and separate morning or afternoon sessions serve different family routines.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Room accommodates children through to 16 months, combining a sofa area for close contact with staff, space for emerging crawling and walking, and a grassed balcony for outdoor play. Individual routines shape this youngest stage rather than requiring every baby to follow the same timetable.

From 16 to 24 months, the Duckling Room introduces sand, painting and water activities as children become more independent, while retaining its own grassed balcony; its stated staff:child ratio is 1:3.

For children aged 2 to 3 years, the Cygnet Room emphasises independence in eating, sleep and personal hygiene, with accessible toilets and a sensory room containing lights, tactile materials and toys. Those facilities give practical support to toilet training and different ways of exploring materials.

The Pre-School Room serves children aged 3 to 5 years, linking independence and social interaction with mini themes, festivals and small-group activities, and providing outdoor space beneath a canopy. This stage puts more emphasis on participating with other children and preparing for school.

Learning and Activities

EYFS provides the baseline framework for learning and development: children build skills through play, communication and growing independence. Its areas of learning guide preschool planning alongside small-group activities with the key worker.

Songs accompany daily music and movement activities indoors and outside, while little kickers visits the preschool room weekly for physical activities and outdoor exercise.

In April 2023, children chose books, joined familiar story phrases and connected caterpillars they were hatching with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Babies participated through familiar sounds during singing. Stories connected with what children were observing.

During that inspection, preschool children used a number line to recognise and order numbers, while staff introduced descriptive vocabulary during creative activities. Activities sometimes needed better adaptation, and distractions interrupted younger children's concentration during group work.

Outdoor and Community Life

The main outdoor area combines grass with hard and soft surfaces for play and movement. In April 2023, older children practised moving across balance beams, while babies were supported to develop standing skills.

Parents can specify whether they want contact before local walks, giving them a say in how outings are agreed.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key worker responsible for developmental planning, settling support and contributions to their online learning information. This gives families an identified contact for their child's development.

Settling begins with pre-visits. The usual offer starts with two visits, with more possible when needed: parents remain for an initial session of around an hour, followed by a visit during which the child spends roughly an hour and a half apart from them. The arrangement introduces both the room and a short separation before the child's regular attendance begins.

Daily diaries in the younger rooms carry care information between home and nursery, with parents able to contribute. Connect childcare is the online learning journey, holding photographs, observations, children's work and updates about meals, nappy changes, medication and accidents.

A text service carries reminders, event information and messages about emergency closures or adverse weather, keeping practical notices separate from development updates.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Individual baby routines include feeding, changing and sleep information shared with home; Cygnet Room care encourages independence in eating and hygiene.

In April 2023, staff gathered family information from the outset and used daily handovers alongside an online app. Additional support involved action plans, cooperation with other professionals and extra funding to meet children's needs.

An on-site cook prepares fresh food daily, using a menu that changes over three weeks; breakfast, lunch, tea and snacks are part of the food routine. The nursery's dietary policy is to accommodate allergies and dietary requirements, with families able to review a menu for approval.

Later regulatory findings add important context. In January 2024, Ofsted recorded non-compliance at the time of an incident, followed by changes to policies, staff training and monitoring. In December 2024, it recorded that a child had been left unsupervised in the garden for a significant period and that new procedures were being applied inconsistently. Actions addressed oversight of staff practice and staff understanding of individual care through the key-person role; the recorded outcome confirms satisfactory action. These repeated findings make supervision and implementation of care procedures material considerations alongside the earlier Good judgement.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Market Lane, Swalwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 3ED. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks, excluding public bank holidays and the Christmas-to-New-Year closure.

A full day runs from 8am to 6pm. Morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm, and afternoons from 1pm to 6pm. An earlier 7.30am start requires advance arrangement and carries an additional charge, making it a separate practical consideration from the standard day.

The recommended settling pattern is at least two half sessions or one full day each week. This is advice rather than a compulsory minimum booking. Flexible arrangements can be requested for shift patterns, with accommodation dependent on the nursery's ability to meet the request.

Telephone, email and a contact form provide enquiry routes. Registration requires proof of the child's identity and date of birth, plus information about medical needs, allergies, special diets and additional support needs.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered through 2 & 3 year funding, alongside paid childcare. The nursery also accepts childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare payments. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Parents supply nappies, wipes and creams, which are stored for their child and replenished when staff request them. For sun cream, families can provide their own or use the nursery's supply for an extra charge; a sun hat and spare clothing come from home. This means everyday non-food supplies have different arrangements rather than one inclusive package.

• Youngest-room progression. The Baby Room and Duckling Room both have grassed balconies, while the Cygnet Room adds accessible toilets and sensory resources. During a visit, discuss how the next room change would fit your child's mobility, routines and independence.
• Group activities. In April 2023, younger children's concentration was sometimes interrupted by distractions, and activities were not consistently adjusted to individual needs. Ask how group work is organised now and how staff respond when a child needs a different approach.
• Attendance and charges. Morning, afternoon and full-day bookings offer different options, with a separately charged early start. Ask for a written quotation showing the funded-hours arrangement and treatment of meals and extras for your chosen pattern.
• Dietary needs. The cook can accommodate allergies and special diets, and a menu can be supplied for approval. Families managing an allergy should confirm current kitchen and serving practice before joining.

Stepping Stones suits families considering morning or afternoon sessions as well as full-day attendance. Its appeal rests on concrete arrangements: balconies for younger children, sensory resources for toddlers, sheltered preschool outdoor space and communication through diaries and an online learning journey.

The April 2023 Good judgement provides a positive dated assessment, but the activity-adaptation and group-time concerns deserve attention. For families choosing between attendance patterns, the room progression and settling visits offer useful ways to judge how the care would fit their child, rather than deciding on opening hours alone.