Stepping Stones Day Nursery

Cardboard boats tested in water and babies exploring textured balls give a concrete picture of Stepping Stones Day Nursery's January 2023 provision: learning through investigation, with everyday materials doing useful work. At its 31 January 2023 inspection, Ofsted graded the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective.

This Boroughbridge setting has capacity for 50 children aged 3 to 60 months. Its weekday opening window extends from 7.45am to 6pm, making the practical hours worth weighing alongside the dated account of children's experiences.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care; for parents, this means education and everyday care belong together. In January 2023, communication and independence were central to the curriculum, with songs, gestures and time to answer helping children participate in conversation.

Activities gave children things to investigate and skills to practise. In January 2023, babies explored balls with different textures, while older children used dough and scissors and made marks outdoors as well as indoors. Testing cardboard boats introduced a simple question children could explore for themselves: would their creation stay afloat?

The January 2023 improvement priorities included broadening children's understanding of cultures and family traditions beyond their own experiences. That matters alongside the practical learning: children also need opportunities to understand lives different from theirs.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used their knowledge of individual children to support progress and worked with families and professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Targets were tailored to the child rather than applied uniformly.

In January 2023, babies sought comfort from practitioners, and everyday routines encouraged children to do more for themselves, including serving food and putting toys away. Parents received information about learning through an online system, giving them a way to follow what their child was working towards.

Communication across settings was weaker in January 2023. Where children attended another early years provider too, information sharing needed development so that learning could connect across both settings.

The address is York Road, Boroughbridge, York, YO51 9EB. Opening hours are 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In January 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of a funded place now.

• Learning across two settings. Information sharing needed improvement in January 2023. Families using another provider alongside Stepping Stones should discuss how the two settings now coordinate children's learning.
• Understanding other lives. January 2023 priorities included cultures and traditions. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how these experiences feature in children's activities now.
• The booking arrangement. The weekday opening window runs from 7.45am to 6pm. What attendance pattern and written charge structure would apply to your child?

Stepping Stones merits consideration for families seeking care for children aged 3 to 60 months in Boroughbridge. Its January 2023 account offers concrete examples of practical exploration and growing independence. Families should weigh that dated picture alongside the attendance arrangement they need and the nursery's approach to the two learning priorities.