First Steps Private Day Nursery

Tree climbing, vegetables grown in the garden and family picnics give First Steps Private Day Nursery a recognisable character. In February 2025, children explored their surroundings through supervised physical challenges, growing food and outings that sometimes brought parents along too.

At its February 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. On Newall Street in Littleborough, OL15 9DL, the nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 34 places in total.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its practical expression in February 2025 included sensory exploration for babies, making marks with fingers and tools for toddlers, and practising pencil control for preschool children. These experiences connected play with the hand movements children need for writing.

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that teaching built progressively on children's existing abilities, with individual next steps incorporated into planned activities to support progress towards learning goals and preparation for school.

Outdoor experiences gave children something concrete to explore. In February 2025, supervised tree climbing involved children recognising which branches they could reach safely. Visits took them to local parks and a nearby lake; family picnics extended some experiences to parents. In the nursery garden, children planted vegetables and watered them, connecting food with how it grows.

Relationships were visible in everyday behaviour in February 2025. Children readily talked with visitors, shared toys and helped one another at the slide. Staff encouraged turn-taking and manners, giving children practical ways to participate alongside others.

Words from children's home languages and culturally varied books were used in February 2025. Parents could join stay-and-play sessions and contribute ideas through questionnaires, creating opportunities to participate in nursery life.

Healthy meals and snacks formed part of the day at that time. Hygiene teaching needed greater consistency: handwashing after outdoor play and attention to runny noses were not reinforced reliably by all staff. The improvement action called for clearer, more consistent messages about personal hygiene.

The address is Newall Street, Littleborough, OL15 9DL. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except bank holidays.

In February 2025, sessions ran from 7.30am to 6pm and government-funded childcare was offered.

• Hygiene routines. The February 2025 improvement action concerned inconsistent hygiene messages. Ask how staff now reinforce handwashing after outdoor play and manage children's runny noses.
• Activities across the age range. The current age range begins at 3 months, while the February 2025 examples span sensory exploration, mark-making and pencil control. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how activities and care are adapted for your child's stage.

First Steps suits families seeking weekday, year-round attendance who value practical outdoor experiences and opportunities to participate in nursery life. Its February 2025 picture combined garden growing, supervised climbing and individual learning steps. Consistent hygiene routines remain the specific point to explore when choosing it.