Step Start Mountnessing

281 Roman Road, Mountnessing, Brentwood CM15 0UH
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9.9 78 Reviews
  • Step Start Mountnessing, Brentwood
Step Start Mountnessing has been purpose-built to deliver the best in education and care to all of children in their care. Core values include education, care and exploration.

At Step Start, there is a true dedication to the development of each child through curriculum, enthusiastic staff and a strong parent partnership.                        

The nursery is always full of exciting adventures for children to learn through interactive play, enjoying every minute of the day!

Care Provided by Step Start Mountnessing

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

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Sarah Goddard (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 22
  • Total Places for Children
  • 70
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 2 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:00-18:00
    Tuesday 07:00-18:00
    Wednesday 07:00-18:00
    Thursday 07:00-18:00
    Friday 07:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Step Start Mountnessing

  • Please contact the nursery for information on their latest fees. 15 and 30 hours funding accepted including the new funding.


Step Start Mountnessing Reviews (78)

Total of 78, showing 61-78
9.9

Step Start Mountnessing has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.932) out of 10, based on 32 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Step Start Mountnessing has 78 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery staff are all absolutely amazing and endeavour to do as many activities with the children as possible over varied weeks. My daughter has started speaking and has become a lot more expressive since being a part of Step Start.
The day-to-day updates and the reports are all so lovely to receive,
and it’s really good to know that you can see what your child is up to and what they have been eating all day without having to seem like an over-the-top parent!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child has settled into this nursery incredibly quickly, and this is mostly due to the home-like setting, and the kind and friendly staff. My child enjoys attending here, and the communication I receive from the staff is excellent.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little brother has become less annoying since being here, he listens more and can actually talk in sentences I understand. The staff are friendly and he gets to do a heap of things that are too messy to do at home. He enjoys the cooking and is starting to take an interest in writing and reading.
We use the App to keep track of what he is doing and so we can talk to staff about concerns, or whose picking him up. He loves it here, and I love him being there!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very impressed with the nursery. I was very nervous about putting our children into a nursery setting and I couldn't be happier.
Our children are thriving and happy. They have fun packed days and love their teachers. The teachers know the children so well and are so incredibly accommodating we love
Step Start and would definitely recommend.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at Step Start almost a year ago now and immediately settled right in. I feel completely comfortable leaving him for such long days knowing he will be well cared for and kept busy!
Step Start has a brilliant variety of activities on offer day to day, including some local outings which
my son loves. They also have access to educational games, videos and apps that encourage learning through play.


Communication is at a high standard at Step Start due to the handover app 'Family' they use which is updated throughout the day, keeping me informed of my son's meals, sleeps, nappy changes and any other relevant information. Staff are extremely friendly and welcoming and nothing is ever too much trouble.


Highly recommend Step Start - excellent nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Staff are really friendly and welcoming for both children, (1 year and 2 years old). Both children have developed well and enjoy their time at nursery. The staff at the nursery have supported potty training the 2 year old which has helped so much.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is the best place for my son, he has made friends, become more sociable and his speech has improved dramatically. There is great preparation in readiness for school and he is listening and talking about what he has done with such enthusiasm. As a parent it is really hard to leave him but he loves
the staff and I can see that they care too. The Famly App is excellent, I can see what he has eaten, his learning and development and see pictures of what he has been doing. The communication is good with a handover each day and through the App if theres something I need to know. We will both be sad when he moves on to school but will continue to highly recommend the nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughters started Step Start just before her second birthday. It’s such a hard decision picking a nursery for your child and at the time, Step Start had not long opened but after viewing the nursery and meeting the staff we felt very comfortable with our daughter starting there.
It was the best
decision we made! Our daughter loves the children and staff there and is always very happy to be going in!
Step Start have an app which allows you to check up on your child throughout the day and tells you what they have eaten, etc. The nursery provides such a variety of healthy meals and snacks.
You can also view pictures and see what they have been learning and the activities they have taken part in.
I am a shift worker and the staff have always been so flexible and so helpful if I have ever needed to amend or add on any extra days.
The nursery is in a lovely setting and the facilities are great.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter joined Step Start in 2017 and we have always been very happy with the nursery.
The staff are friendly and helpful. We receive regular updates via the app and they do a handover when we collect our daughter at the end of the day. We are very pleased with our daughter's progression and
she enjoys going to nursery which as a parent is very important and reassuring.
I would definitely recommend Step Start. They are a fantastic nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at Step Start when he was 18mths old, his safety and comfort have never been questioned and the nurseries opening hours are working-parent friendly.


The children have a great outdoor life, extra activities like Lingtots and the staff are very approachable, kind and thoughtful. Working

with the parents when dealing with any issues relating to the children. Parent involvement is encouraged through seminars and stay and play sessions on a regular basis. Help and guidance are also provided should any difficult situations arise helping us parents deal with them.


Overall Step Start has impressed me with their constant drive for improvement, their investment into our children’s developmental stages and needs is ongoing and clearly reflected in our children when you look at their progress. My son loves the staff, his activities and spending time with his friends at the nursery and as a full time working single parent, I couldn’t ask for a better peace of mind that this gives me.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter started at Step Start when she was 6 months old and I was worried about leaving her, but the staff have been brilliant. They assured me that my daughter could have more ‘settling in’ sessions if needed. 1 year on and our daughter has a great relationship with her carers. We are regularly
kept up to date with her progress and if I am ever worried about her, i.e. if she has a cold, I am never made to feel that I am being a nuisance when I contact the nursery to find out how she is. In fact, the staff encourage me to contact them whenever I want.


The nursery put a lot of thought and effort into their activities with the children. They keep parents involved in the child’s development and arrange parent seminars at their venue.


We couldn’t recommend them enough to anyone who was looking to put their child into a nursery. Instead of feeling guilty that we are leaving our child when we go to work, we know that she is having a positive and happy experience in a safe environment.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My experience with Step Start has been exceptional. I know that my son is being looked after by a team of professionals who genuinely care about his wellbeing, happiness and safety. He has bonded well with the staff who he loves. It's the people at Step Start that make the nursery an outstanding place
for him to develop. The staff have my absolute confidence because I can see every day that he is happy, healthy and having a great time at the nursery. The family app they use is great, I get regular updates and photos, I can see what and how much he has eaten and it's a great way to stay connected to your child while at work, I highly recommend this nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children really enjoy Step Start, so much so that I struggle to get them to come home when I collect them! My daughter loves baking and they often bring home cakes, bread and biscuits that they've made. The staff are polite and friendly and the children always seem happy and cared for. Really
happy with this pre-school

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very impressed by the nursery. Was at first sceptical as no reviews to go by, not long open, however no reason to be. The staff are all lovely and accommodating. They spend lots of time getting to know children and support them in their development. They are always on hand and willing to advise and
guide. I love the fact that they spend time outdoors being either the local park or school playground. The Famly App they use is great as it provides a real-time update and also an easy, not intrusive, way to communicate with parents.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Step Start Mountnessing is a really fantastic nursery and in my opinion is the best nursery in the area! My daughter settled in really quickly and well. The nursery is well managed, the staff are lovely (with wonderful facilities and activities), the equipment is new and in a great condition, the nursery
is very clean, and my little girl really likes there. The famly app that they use is great, you can be informed about you child's activities during the day in real time. We are very happy with the care and attention that my daughter receives from her carers. By the time I pick her up she’s always very happy to see me and has clearly had a very good day. I would highly recommend the Step Start Mountnessing nursery to my friends.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Choosing Step Start, that was a brand new nursery with no reviews to go on, was a tricky decision to make. Especially as the competition was well established and had rave reviews. Now we’re are 6 months in, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. My baby is in five days a week, and he is completely
happy and content there.
The staff are great and I have always been completely satisfied with the care received. The outside space felt small initially and I had initial worries about how this would fulfil a growing boy. But as the nursery has access to school grounds daily, this feels less of a concern. Communication from the management is regular and informative. The app they use which allows us to see step by step of every day is a fab idea. I would highly recommend Step Start to anyone considering it. And I feel pleased that my baby has three more happy years there before starting school.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since starting Step Start 5 months ago, my little boy's development has come on leaps and bounds. His vocabulary and behaviour have improved massively. He is smiling from the time we drop him off until we pick him up at the end of the day which shows how much he really enjoys going. All the staff are
so lovely and brilliant with the children. The nursery itself is so clean and full of different activities for the children to play with. The Famly app is also brilliant! I was really nervous about sending my little boy to a nursery but it has been by far the best decision we made and we are so glad we picked this one!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been delighted with the progress our daughter has made since coming to Step Start. She has flourished in herself and is more confident and capable than previously. The staff are approachable, caring and foster a love of learning which is important to us. The children have so much fun with a
wide variety of activities, it's wonderful to see.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.932)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.932) out of 10 for Step Start Mountnessing is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 32 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 32 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 4.932 for Step Start Mountnessing is calculated as follows: ( (356 Excellents x 5) + (26 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 382 Ratings = 4.932

  • 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 Step Start Mountnessing is based on 32 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 70 number of registered child places is 14, which has been reached with 32 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.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

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Meet the Team (6)

Sarah

Sarah Goddard

Job Title: Head of Early Years Education

Joined: 2021

I have worked in both schools and nurseries and can most certainly say that I adore my job and my role. I'm enormously passionate about SEN and providing children who need a little more help with the pathways to succeed by championing inclusive practice and striving for success with all children. I love being a leader at Step Start because it supports my progression and long-term career plans with many exciting opportunities.


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Madison Wright

Job Title: Deputy Head of Early Years Education

Joined: 2024

Ellie

Ellie Butt

Job Title: Starting Steps Room Co-ordinator

Joined: 2019

I have been qualified since 2018 and have worked my way up to Room Manager at Step Start. I'm passionate, dedicated and enthusiastic about high-quality teaching and learning and really enjoy being a leader to support and guide staff, listen and advise and most importantly have fun! I love being in the sector as the phrase "no two days are the same" is so true!


Joanne

Joanne Hinks

Job Title: First Steps Room Co-ordinator

Joined: 2020

I have been in the sector for over 10 years and have two children myself. I achieved a level 3 in my Early Years and looking into doing my level 5 in leadership and management. I wanted to move into leadership to help inspire the next wave of early years practitioners and develop my confidence in my role.


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Kaci Edwards

Job Title: Little Leaps Room Co-ordinator

Joined: 2023

Lauren

Lauren Shepheard

Job Title: Big Steps Room Co-ordinator

Joined: 2020

I have a level 3 in early years practice and can honestly say, that the children are at the heart of all I do! Interactive storytimes, yoga and Makaton are my passions and I moved into a leadership role to ensure my staffing team are just as passionate and dedicated and we can all thrive together!