Step By Step Nursery

Education and care need careful scrutiny at Step By Step Nursery in Bushey. At its 27 April 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding standards not met and achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership all to require urgent improvement. These are dated judgements, but they are substantial considerations for families choosing care.

The nursery has capacity for 49 children, accepting ages from 3 to 60 months. Its address is 2 Park Avenue, Bushey, WD23 2DD.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: the day should help children build skills alongside receiving appropriate care. In April 2026, learning targets were often based on inaccurate assessments, and support for communication was uneven. The curriculum lacked a clear plan for children's learning, staff interactions did too little to develop their skills, and children were not gaining the abilities needed for school. Confident speakers had more opportunities to join discussions than children who needed help expressing themselves.

There were worthwhile moments. In April 2026, toddlers enjoyed listening to stories, babies explored resources, and older children used songs to learn friends' names. A familiar song also reminded children to hold the banister on the stairs. These concrete experiences gave children opportunities to listen, connect and practise moving safely.

However, in April 2026, skills developed by toddlers were not consistently extended in preschool. Staff sometimes served food and poured drinks for older children rather than giving them opportunities to do these tasks themselves. Waiting and unsettled movement between rooms interrupted learning; the busy lobby on the route to the garden could leave children distressed.

At the April 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that frequent staff moves weakened key-person relationships, support for children with SEND was inconsistent, and children facing barriers to learning made insufficient progress. For families needing additional support, the important issue is how individual plans translate into sustained attention throughout the day.

In April 2026, some parents did not know their child's key person, and hurried handovers meant important information could be missed. Progress information was also unreliable, affecting both parents' understanding and information passed to another setting. Staff supervision and training lacked sufficiently specific direction to improve practice.

Food allergies and intolerances were managed appropriately in April 2026. That finding concerns practice at that visit, rather than a current dietary guarantee.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates throughout the year and closes on bank holidays. That opening window is useful for families planning care around work.

• Education and school preparation. The April 2026 findings identified inaccurate learning targets and weak language support. Ask what has changed in assessment, communication activities and preparation for the next learning stage.
• Continuity of care. Frequent staff moves disrupted key-person relationships in April 2026. A visit should establish how children now retain a familiar adult and how parents receive meaningful daily information.
• Attendance arrangements. The year-round opening window runs from 7.30am to 6.30pm. Which booking pattern would cover your family's required days and hours?

Step By Step Nursery's age range and year-round opening hours suit families needing care from early infancy through the preschool years. The April 2026 educational findings warrant close attention, especially where a child needs additional language or developmental support. Practical convenience needs to be weighed against clear demonstrations of consistent teaching, useful learning targets and dependable relationships.