Little Stars at First Steps

A main room for free-flow play, a smaller activity room and resources that change regularly give Little Stars at First Steps a straightforward character: children have space to explore at their own pace, with a familiar key person supporting their learning. This Accrington setting takes children from two years to school age and has 32 places in total.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, while identifying two priorities: clearer learning aims for activities led by adults and more precisely targeted staff development. Those priorities matter alongside the positive judgement. Families need both an engaging day and teaching that takes account of what their individual child needs to learn next.

Morning and afternoon sessions run during term time, with attendance options organised across five days.

The main nursery room allows free-flow play, while the smaller room provides another space for activities. Resources are changed regularly to renew children’s interest. For a child who likes to investigate independently, that combination offers a familiar setting with different things to explore, rather than an unchanging selection of toys.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, development and care: in everyday terms, play also provides opportunities to practise communication, movement and getting along with others. In July 2022, these were central strands of the curriculum. Staff used information from parents about children’s starting points to help plan their next steps.

During that July 2022 visit, children’s interests shaped some of the play. An interest in firefighting prompted dressing-up and pretend play using cardboard tubes. Elsewhere, children collaborated on pretend house-building in the construction area, while older children discussed why damp sand worked for making sandcastles. These examples show how ordinary materials can create opportunities for conversation, cooperation and investigation.

Weekly forest school sessions formed part of the July 2022 nursery experience, giving children opportunities to explore unfamiliar environments and challenge their physical skills. Children also investigated flowers and grew vegetables. The emphasis was practical: discovering, moving and handling things, alongside indoor play.

Community experiences had a place too. In July 2022, children had visited a local mosque and marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, bringing cultural experiences and a shared national occasion into their learning. These were experiences at that time, rather than a promise of a recurring calendar.

The teaching priorities were specific. In July 2022, staff did not consistently identify what individual activities were intended to teach, which made it harder to connect them with the wider curriculum. Staff supervision and observation also needed to identify training goals more accurately. Enjoyable activities were present; the next step was greater precision about their educational purpose.

A key person gives each child a familiar adult to support their learning and development. That continuity is useful for families whose child needs time to become comfortable with nursery: exploration takes place alongside an ongoing relationship, rather than being treated as a separate task.

In July 2022, younger children sought comfort from their key person, and staff supported behaviour through encouragement and praise. Children practised sharing turns and listening to others. Online learning journals helped parents follow their child’s learning, providing a connection between experiences at nursery and conversations at home.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities good, with staff recognising support needs promptly and working with professionals and the local authority on individual plans. For a family considering additional support, the practical strength in that finding is the combination of early identification, outside advice and planning around the child.

Independence also featured in July 2022 daily routines. Children helped prepare fruit and poured their drinks at snack time, making an everyday care routine an opportunity to practise useful skills. At that time, five childcare staff worked at the nursery; four held level 3 early years qualifications and one held a level 6 qualification. These are details of the team at that visit.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery is based at First Steps Outreach Centre, Princess Street, Accrington, BB5 1SP. Its direct telephone number is 01254 232393.

During term time, Monday to Friday, morning sessions run from 9am to midday and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 4pm. The separate morning and afternoon patterns make this a practical option for families planning shorter nursery attendance around the rest of their day. School holidays fall outside its opening pattern.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered during term time. The attendance model includes 15 hours across five days; 30 hours across five days may be considered. The distinction matters: the longer pattern is conditional, rather than an automatic extension of the shorter one.

Additional hours or sessions may also be considered. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation, so the agreed attendance pattern and any paid hours should be set out together before a family accepts its arrangements.

• Term-time attendance. Both morning and afternoon sessions follow the term-time calendar. Families needing care during school holidays should weigh that boundary against their working pattern.
• The longer funded pattern. Thirty hours across five days may be considered. Make the proposed timetable, including arrangements between morning and afternoon sessions, part of the joining discussion.
• Teaching precision. The July 2022 improvement priorities concerned individual learning aims and staff development. On a visit, ask how an activity is adapted to what a particular child needs to learn next.
• A familiar adult. The key person system is central to the current offer. Use a visit to discuss how that relationship would help your child settle and how information from home would be shared.

Little Stars at First Steps suits families seeking either morning or afternoon nursery sessions during term time, especially those who value a compact layout and a familiar adult supporting their child. Rotating resources give children fresh reasons to explore, while the July 2022 examples of imaginative play, practical independence and outdoor learning add substance to its character.

The balance is clear: an established sessional offer with a Good inspection judgement, alongside specific teaching and staff-development priorities from July 2022. Its strongest practical appeal is the combination of shorter attendance patterns, a key person relationship and room to investigate at an individual pace.