Footsteps Fradley Nursery & Pre-School

A converted barn, gardens attached to every room and a treehouse-style forest school area give Footsteps Fradley a clear outdoor character. Sandy Hill Farm provides the setting; a shared barn space and dedicated sensory room broaden the choice between active exploration and quieter play. This is a nursery where the physical surroundings deserve serious weight in a family's decision.

At its 2 February 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged inclusion to be Strong standard, the remaining areas to be Expected standard and safeguarding standards to be met. The important qualification concerns consistency: adult conversations with children and guidance through busy routines needed to become more dependable across the nursery.

With capacity for 114 children, Footsteps Fradley accepts children aged six months to five years. Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings serve different family routines, subject to a minimum weekly commitment that includes a Monday or Friday.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the learning and development framework: children build communication, physical skills and understanding through play and everyday experiences. At Fradley, sensory exploration, creative activities and outdoor play make that practical. The emphasis is on children doing things, investigating and talking about what they discover.

Alongside that framework sit the group's curriculum commitments, including Confident Communicators, which supports children's expression, and Critical And Creative Thinkers, which encourages exploration and testing ideas. These are group-wide commitments used here, rather than separate requirements replacing the framework. Their practical relevance lies in giving conversation and problem-solving a place within play.

In February 2026, older children investigated how to release a toy animal trapped in ice. The activity gave them something concrete to predict and discuss, connecting language with early cause and effect. Books were accessible inside and outside, bringing reading into both parts of the learning environment.

There was also a clear limitation that month. Conversations became less sustained during busy periods when children moved freely between activities, and adults sometimes addressed children from across a room. Leaders were working on making direct engagement more consistent. Families should weigh the quality of ordinary, busy moments alongside the appeal of planned activities.

Outdoor and Community Life

Each room has its own garden area, allowing indoor play and outdoor exploration to sit close together. Beyond these gardens, the shared barn space gives children another setting for active play, while the sensory room provides a place for calmer experiences. The arrangement offers different kinds of space within the same nursery.

The treehouse-style forest school area adds a recognisable outdoor feature. Forest school involves learning outdoors through exploration and practical experiences; in February 2026, regular sessions included opportunities to work together and practise managing risk. The frequency was regular, rather than a fixed weekly promise.

That month's outdoor digging example also showed how adults handled a small upset: when soil landed on nearby children, staff redirected the digging and comforted those affected. Outdoor learning therefore involved relationships and consideration for others as well as physical activity.

Relationships and Communication

A key person supports each child, giving families a consistent relationship around care. This matters alongside the nursery's emphasis on learning through play: familiarity with a child's preferences and routines helps adults interpret what that child needs.

In February 2026, a two-visit induction gathered information about children's routines, preferences and familiar comfort items. During personal care, adults talked directly to children and explained what was happening. These details give parents a useful picture of the settling process at that time, especially for a baby beginning care away from home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the February 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that staff identified additional needs promptly and adapted support with parents, using smaller steps, visual prompts, sensory experiences and quieter spaces. The practical point is the specificity of the response: adjustments were reviewed as children's needs changed, rather than treated as a single fixed plan.

In February 2026, care arrangements included sleep safety procedures, clear labels and a shoes-off policy. A traffic light allergy system helped staff identify dietary needs at mealtimes.

Progress checks for two-year-olds brought together staff observations, information from parents and contributions from health visitors that month. Next steps became part of everyday routines, linking assessment to the child's day and preparation for the next stage of learning, including school.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Sandy Hill Farm, Fradley Junction, Alrewas, DE13 7DW, with parking on site. The nursery opens Monday to Friday; the standard booking sessions have their own times.

A Full Day runs from 8am to 6pm, Morning from 8am to 1pm and Afternoon from 1pm to 6pm. An Early Start can cover 7.30am to 8am. The minimum booking is four morning or afternoon sessions, or two full days each week, and it must include a Monday or Friday. That weekday condition can be decisive for families arranging care around work.

The nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing for public holidays and a week at Christmas. Permanent session changes and cancellations require one calendar month's notice. Enquiries and tour bookings are available directly through the nursery.

Funding and Paid Extras

For eligible children aged nine months to four years, funded childcare includes the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements for 38 weeks, stretched across the nursery's operating weeks. The nursery also accepts 2 Help funding. Funded hours can be used alone or combined with paid care, within day, morning or afternoon sessions between 8am and 6pm, subject to availability.

Private-session fees are all inclusive, covering meals and consumables. During funded hours, food, consumables and enrichment are charged separately through the optional Essentials Package; parents can opt out by contacting the manager before term begins. Consumables include wipes, nappies, nappy bags, cream and suncream. Opting out may involve providing suitable alternatives or collecting and disposing of consumables under the nursery's policy.

Meals are prepared fresh on site each day using seasonal ingredients. Full-day food provision includes lunch and tea as well as breakfast and snacks.

The Enrichment Programme may include additions to the standard curriculum, such as cooking, gardening or specialist sessions; these are possible activities rather than a guaranteed programme of sessions. Additional hours outside funded entitlement are charged separately. A registration charge and a deposit apply, both waived for fully funded places; the deposit is credited against the final invoice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Consistency during busy routines. In February 2026, some children were unsure what came next between activities, and language-rich interaction varied during busy periods. On a visit, ask how staff now sustain conversation, explain transitions and keep behaviour expectations consistent across activities.
• Closing time and booking conditions. The branch information gives a 6.30pm closing time, while the Fradley fee sheet gives 6pm. Confirm the closing time for your booking. The minimum pattern also includes a Monday or Friday, whether families choose full days or morning and afternoon sessions, so compare that condition with the days your household needs.
• Funded-hours extras. The optional Essentials Package separates food, consumables and enrichment from funded childcare. Before agreeing a pattern, establish what opting out would mean for meals and supplies for your child.
• Allergy arrangements. A traffic light system was in use in February 2026. Families affected by allergies should confirm current preparation, labelling and mealtime procedures for their child's needs.

Footsteps Fradley suits families who value gardens close to the rooms, outdoor exploration and access to both active and quieter spaces. Its full-day, morning and afternoon patterns accommodate different routines, provided the minimum booking and Monday-or-Friday condition fit.

The February 2026 findings give inclusion substantial weight, while the unfinished work on interactions and transitions remains material. The strongest case for choosing Fradley combines its physical environment with practical, individual adjustments to care.