Stepping Stones Day Nursery

152 Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham RG40 4JA
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10 74 Reviews
  • Stepping Stones Day Nursery, Wokingham
Stepping Stones Day Nursery is a smaller scale and very personable style children’s day nursery.

Set in a bungalow with expansive gardens, there are lots to do for all ages from three months to five years. The pre-schoolers have their own separate building in the grounds, whilst babies and toddlers benefit from bright and airy rooms in the main building.

Home-cooked meals, cook school, Boogie Mites and outdoor learning in the nursery gardens and wild play spaces are all included. All professionals are well-trained to support key EYFS goals.

The nursery received an 'outstanding' grade in all areas from Ofsted in August 2017.

Care Provided by Stepping Stones Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Lauren Doe (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 11
  • Total Places for Children
  • 50
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Stepping Stones Day Nursery

  • We offer spaces as a standard day (8 am to 5.30 pm) or extended day (7.30 am to 6 pm). Funded only spaces are limited.
    Please contact the nursery direct for a copy of our fees sheet.


  • Parking
  • Please use the entrance and exit as advised on the signs.
    Parking can be allocated outside the front of the nursery.


Stepping Stones Day Nursery Reviews (74)

Total of 74, showing 41-60
10

Stepping Stones Day Nursery has a Review Score of 10 (9.955) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Stepping Stones Day Nursery has 74 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both of my children visit Stepping Stones and enjoy themselves very much. My oldest is now in the pre-school room and started in baby room 3 years ago. I have to say I always felt that they both received excellent care and that they are in a safe environment. All the staff are doing and have done a
tremendous job on the educational side as well as teaching social skills. Everyone has always been super helpful as well.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Stepping Stones Day Nursery is a wonderful nursery setting. My two boys have attended since they were 10 months old. The eldest is now attending school and the staff at Stepping Stones Day Nursery were pivotal in developing him. My youngest is nearly 4 and loves attending preschool. He has made great
friends in both children and staff, is starting to write, learning maths, French, developing his speech as well as enjoying the enormous outside space the nursery has to offer. The staff are all friendly, welcoming and professional and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this nursery to others.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Lovely nursery with nice caring staff. They have a great outdoor space and do lots of different activities with the children including French on a Wednesday. My little girl has been very happy there.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter loves going to this nursery - she's been there for a year and a half and over this time her development has flourished, particularly her communication, language, problem-solving, creativity and movement. She has a lovely bond with the nursery staff, whom are all extremely helpful, kind
and professional and they facilitate great friendships and play with the other children that attend. They offer guidance and advice on your child's development and really care about the children - it's why we chose this nursery because it felt like a home. The nursery offers an excellent variety of indoor and outdoor activities and these are recorded daily on a portal for parents to view anytime, alongside the meals, sleep time and nappy changes. The play areas are well organised and equipped for each development stage and it has a great outdoor space, with a woodland at the back.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son absolutely loves this nursery - we couldn’t be happier with him attending Stepping Stones.


All of the staff are friendly and obviously care a lot about the children. The activities are varied and interesting - and they get the opportunity to do so much.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending the nursery for almost a year now and I have been so impressed with the personalised care they provide for her. She has recently moved up to the older room and at first, was a little unsure. However - the staff have gone out of their way to ensure she settles in and feels
secure and safe. She really enjoys all the fun activities she does while at nursery - particularly playing in the lovely gardens, she also loves showing me all her paintings and artwork she does while there - she proudly likes to display them on my fridge door!
The nursery always put on lovely events during the year and they have a fantastic open door policy - the level of communication and involvement with parents is exceptional - I could not ask for more from a nursery for my daughter.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot rate this nursery enough my daughter has been going since she was 10 months old and has come along in leaps and bounds. Her new school have already complimented her manners and helpfulness and I think this is all down to Stepping Stones Day Nursery staff and how they encouraged her. As well
as a childminding setting you are getting a full teaching team as well. Thank you for making my child a smart cookie and giving her lots of cuddles when she's needed it and I could not be there. It means so much to have people you trust looking after your child.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter at the time was 1 years old when she first started here.
I cannot believe she will be leaving this Summer in preparation for school.


It really only feels like yesterday dropping her off and mummy crying because she didn’t want me to leave her and that guilty feeling you have that you’re

a bad mum.
Stepping Stones team called me at work and reassured me she had settled once I’d left the building and still now will give extra care after an illness or sleepless nights that toddlers give us!
The nursery and preschool teams have been loving, caring and friendly.
It’s always a hard decision to leave your little ones but now I can see she has grown into a very confident, self-sufficient, intelligent young lady. She has learnt so much more from going to Stepping Stones rather than being at home with Mum.
I can safely say I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for a childcare which isn’t overcrowded and the children are given lots of attention.
Thank you

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Staff are always enthusiastic, cheerful and accommodating to children's needs.
Stimulating environment for the children and helps develop skills.
The environment helps with good behaviour of the children as well.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My twin daughters have been at Stepping Stones for two years and have loved it. They are welcomed each morning by a friendly face and when it comes to home time they usually don't want to leave!


Each member of staff has been wonderful towards them and have really helped them to flourish in all aspects.


The girls key workers have really listened to what we (the parents) want for our children. They have even helped one daughter with her physio stretches!


Nothing was ever a problem for them. One daughter had a milk intolerance and they were very happy to adjust all meals to support that.


We couldn't have asked for a better nursery for our girls to start at.


Reply from Mr Alec Hodson, MD at Stepping Stones Day Nursery

Thank you for those kind words. We don't expect it, but it's always great to be able to pass your thanks on to the team, who I know will appreciate it.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter started at Stepping Stones just after her 2nd birthday and is now leaving to start school in a couple of weeks.


We chose the nursery as of all the visited, it seemed the most relaxed and loving environment which suited our needs. Other nurseries were closer to home but Stepping Stones

seemed a much better fit for us.


Having joined as a shy and fairly quiet girl, she quickly gained confidence and has now thrived into a confident little pre-schooler and we feel she is definitely ready to take that next step in her education.


There has been a good range of activities and learning opportunities along the way, and although there has of course been a few staff changes over the time, she has always developed great relationships with all her carers.


Although she is now off to school, our son will be starting at Stepping Stones almost immediately, so we can't really give it a better recommendation than that.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at Stepping Stones in January 2017 as part of his introduction to Pre School. As I am a nanny and have worked in nurseries I was apprehensive but the staff were just fantastic with him. When he started at 3 years and 3 months he was primarily non-verbal with a speech delay and used basic
Makaton signs and singular words to express himself. He has been encouraged, supported and loved throughout his time and now has thrived to the point of being discharged from Speech and Language Therapy. I owe that to the amazing interaction and support of the Stepping Stones team. My boy ADORED his key person, we would often have to pretend to be her at home in order to play "pre school" on the days he didn't attend.


I cannot praise the staff enough, it is very sad that we have had to move on and I know that the girls will be missed.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughters have been at Stepping Stones for the last 6 years. We chose the nursery as we liked the close knit, homely feel of the nursery and we were also impressed with the extensive outdoor space.


The staff throughout our time at Stepping Stones have been great and provided a caring, nurturing

environment for the children. Both my girls have learned so much since being at nursery and it has given them a great head start for school.


I would thoroughly recommend the nursery and we will be sad to leave.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I've had one or both of my children at Stepping Stones for the last 4 and a half years. The level of care they have received throughout has been outstanding. As a reasonably small setting, it has a homely feel and every member of staff knows every child.


As well as great staff, Stepping Stones benefit

from fantastic outdoor space, which the children love spending time in! The nutritious meals provided by their chef have also always been very well received by my children!


We moved house 3 years ago, further away from the nursery but continued to send our eldest there and when the time came our youngest too because of how confident we felt leaving our children in their care.


When our eldest left to start school, she did so very well and was prepared for the learning ahead of her and now our youngest is about to do the same. We will miss the nursery and the staff terribly but we can leave them safe in the knowledge that by sending them both to Stepping Stones we have given them the best possible start.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My Daughter has been at Stepping Stones since she was 11 months old and will be leaving after nearly 4 years. Stepping Stones has been a fantastic nursery for her and I would recommend Stepping Stones to anyone. She has had stability from the staff who are very kind and supportive, some who have supported
her throughout the whole period and whom she has created a real bond with. The staff are friendly and really have helped my daughter to learn in many areas, including French. The nursery has been developed over time to create excellent nursery and pre-school buildings which create a safe environment for the children. The food provided is healthy and lots of variety is provided. The outside play area is excellent. Overall, Stepping Stones is a great place for children to be.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been at Stepping Stones for 9 months now and I love the homely feel of the nursery and outdoor space. He receives excellent attention to his development and well-being and settled in quickly as the staff are friendly, caring and attentive.
The online portal is really useful to check into
throughout the day and I receive an informative handover when I pick him up about what he's eaten, activities he's done plus a highlight of the day which is a nice touch.
Finally, the menu is great and the chef has been more than happy to cater for allergies and diet preferences. Overall I know he is very happy and well looked after at Stepping Stones so would definitely recommend it.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We moved from Australia in April and needed to find a pre-school for my son to go to. Stepping Stones was local and when I enquired about availability I was invited to meet some of the staff and view the centre.
It is a new centre with lovely, new furniture and equipment. It is clean and welcoming
and the outside gardens and woods are just beautiful.
My son had some difficulty settling in due to such big adjustments - new country, new school, teachers, children etc.. and he became a little withdrawn at home. I discussed my concerns with the manager and his teacher and we came up with a plan to help him settle into the centre in his own way and his own time.
They were so accommodating to my child's needs, even to the point of preparing special meals for him that we knew he would eat. I have also been impressed with the "day in the life" reports we can view on our child each day and the communication we receive when we pick him up.
He now comes home so happy every day.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since my 2.5 year old son started at Stepping Stone nursery just over a year ago he has really come out of his shell and literally runs to the door when I drop him off. The outdoor area is fantastic, the best I've seen at a nursery, and the staff are lovely.
It's not a huge nursery which we loved
but the rooms are a good size, clean and modern. The food is always varied and healthy and the staff are always keen to share with you what your child has been up to, both when they see you, as well as online (via a 'parent portal').
Can't recommend Stepping Stones enough.
We wish we weren't temporarily leaving the area, otherwise, we'd stay at this nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After moving to the area a year ago and my son not being in childcare for a year prior, I was looking for a small, friendly nursery, but one that would still offer everything that a larger one could. Since my son started at Stepping Stones, I have not been disappointed. My son was a little apprehensive
when he first started, but they soon made him feel at home. I can honestly say in the last twelve months we have watched him flourish. He has learnt so much and has become a very articulate little boy, who's made some great friends. I would recommend Stepping Stones to anyone. The staff make every drop off easy and they provide healthy food every day and a great variety throughout the year. The lessons help children to learn the educational bits but also teach self-confidence and how to respect other children. A great all round nursery, with great facilities inside, an amazing outdoor space and brilliant staff. Well done Stepping Stones.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would highly recommend Stepping Stones Day Nursery to every parent and have already done so to my friends. My daughter settled in very quickly and loves to go to nursery every morning.


I appreciate the structured education provided and daily activities recorded and published to parents on a timely

basis. In addition, the staff are professional and supportive, they give my daughter enough attention/cuddles and also encourage her being independent to make sure she is happy and confident. My daughter always has balanced meal/snack and enough sleep during the day in the nursery so when she gets home, she is still happy and playful (it's not uncommon to see my friends complaining their children getting stressed/exhausted after getting home so very difficult to stick to the routine). I feel quite lucky that we never have this issue with her. Also, the French lessons, spacious garden and separate sleeping room are all making Stepping Stones outstanding to others.


Thanks Stepping Stones!


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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.955)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.955) out of 10 for Stepping Stones Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.955 for Stepping Stones Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (194 Excellents x 5) + (7 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 202 Ratings = 4.955

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Stepping Stones Day Nursery is based on 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 50 number of registered child places is 10, which has been reached with 17 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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