Stepping Stones Pre-School

Bishops Road, Bristol BS49 4NF
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9.7 15 Reviews
  • Stepping Stones Pre-School, Bristol
Stepping Stones Pre-School is a provider of high-quality education in Bristol.

The setting is based nearby to local facilities and amenities and has good transport links.

Children are taught through child-led learning and exploration, allowing them to extend their curiosity and learn in the moment.

The setting provides a home-from-home environment that allows children to feel safe and secure.

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Care Provided by Stepping Stones Pre-School

  • Type of Service
  • Nursery School – Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Open term time
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Bridie Marsh (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 4
  • Registered Charity Number
  • 1076434
  • Total Places for Children
  • 22
  • Age Range
    • from 2 years 0 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-17:00
    Tuesday 08:00-17:00
    Wednesday 08:00-17:00
    Thursday 08:00-17:00
    Friday 08:00-17:00
  • When Closed
  • School Holidays

Funding & Fees Guide for Stepping Stones Pre-School

  • 8:00AM-9:00AM - £5.75 (as of September 2022).
    9:00AM-15:00PM - £5.75 per hour (unless funded).
    15:00PM-17:00PM - £5.75 per hour
  • Parking

  • When visiting the setting, please use Claverham Village Hall car park, which is located across the road from the nursery.


Stepping Stones Pre-School Reviews (15)

9.7

Stepping Stones Pre-School has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.708) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Stepping Stones Pre-School has 15 reviews.

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Review from Saskia S (Mother of Child) published on 18 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My 2-year-old has been attending Stepping Stones for a few months now, he was the youngest one when he started but he settled really easily thanks to the warm and kind staff. He really enjoys all the activities that are on offer and he goes in and comes home really happy. We have seen a big development
in both his confidence and speech which has been lovely to see. Compared to his last nursery, which was lovely as well, the communication is a lot better and we get daily updates on what the children have been up to as well as individual updates about our son's development. Staff go above and beyond and as a working parent, it's a relief to know that our son is happy and well looked after. I would highly recommend Stepping Stones to anyone looking for childcare.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Early Years Education at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. It is lovely to hear that you have had such a positive experience since moving your little one to Stepping Stones. It has been a pleasure to see his confidence and development grow and how well he has settled into the setting. I will pass your feedback onto the team. I know they appreciate it and value the recognition for all the effort they put into making the setting such a welcoming and stimulating environment. Thank you for your recommendation. Best wishes Natalie


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Review from S E (Father of Child) published on 11 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter attends this nursery and always has a great time. She is so excited to go everyday and then comes home and talks about it.
She has been having a couple of issues with speaking, however they developed over Christmas 2024 and since only being back at nursery for a couple of weeks there are
some dramatic signs of improvement.
Being attached to the school is really handy for parent drop offs and it also allows the children access to the playgrounds during school class times which is really good for going out for walks and climbing little trees etc.
The staff are really friendly and always happy to talk through the day, any issues and how things are progressing with your child. The staff also design inventive ways to entertain the children, like freezing things in ice for the children to dig out etc.
Seeing the photos from each day is really nice too.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Early Years Education at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely detailed review. We are so pleased to be able to support your daughter in the setting, she is such a joy!! We are very proud of the team and recognise that they go over and above to ensure the children's individual needs are met. Your feedback means a lot and I will be sure to pass it on. Best wishes.


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Review from D A (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This setting is fantastic. After having a bad experience with our toddler in another setting (when he was a baby) we were a bit nervous at the start. Every member of staff, especially the manager, was incredibly supportive and reassuring from day one and my son ended up settling quickly and really well.
He now loves his time at Stepping Stones and always has great things to tell us about his day. The communication with parents is great, we get daily pictures of what they're up to and I feel like we're really working together as a team with his best interests at heart when any issues come up. He's really come out of his shell since starting, his speech has improved so much as well as his confidence, which is just so reassuring as a parent. The fact that it's a relatively small setting with mixed ages is also a huge benefit for their development. Really recommend this preschool for any local parents looking for childcare.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful review. We love having your little one in the setting and are so pleased that your experience with us has been so positive. We have a fantastic team of staff who go over and above to make sure each child is supported to develop in a caring and nurturing environment. I'm so glad that this is reflected in your experience of the setting. I will pass your feedback on to the team, I know how much they appreciate it. Many thanks, Natalie


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Review from Jennifer B (Mother of Child) published on 20 November 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son joined the preschool, aged 2, in September 2024. He has learned so much since starting. They helped with potty training. He is making excellent process with numbers and recognising some letters. My son always comes home with new songs and a smile on his face. The staff are friendly and I feel
they know my son well. The wrap-around care is very helpful.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review. I am so pleased that you are having such a positive experience at Stepping Stones. The staff are amazing and work hard to support the children to progress in their development, whilst maintaining a very caring and nurturing environment. I will pass on your comments to the team. Best wishes.


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Review from Connor R (Father of Child) published on 20 November 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are very welcoming, very good system of care and management at the nursery. Very much prefer a nursery to have a link to a primary school like this one. Has a nice suitable outdoor space for the staff and children.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you for your lovely review. We are very proud of the team and the work they put in to ensuring the children are well cared for, building confidence and achieving good levels of development. We are very lucky to have such great relationships with the school and can support the children with transitions and feeling comfortable in their next stage of education. Best wishes.


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Review from P M (Mother of Child) published on 20 November 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child started in September this year, we have felt extremely welcome and my child has settled in well.
Overall amazing experience so far. All the staff are fantastic. Especially his key worker, my child loves going to school and he is evolving and learning loads thanks to the school and all the
teachers.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review. We are delighted that your child has formed such a good attachment with their key person and settled in so well. It is so important to us that children feel safe, cared for and nurtured in order that they feel comfortable to learn and develop. I agree, our staff are amazing and I will pass on your comment to them. Thank you very much. Best wishes.


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Review from Leigh W (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son loves Stepping Stones. The staff are friendly and caring, and they always provide detailed feedback about his day when I collect him, as well as uploading photos every day to the app. I consider this to be a home away from home. Very grateful.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you for such a lovely review. It is amazing to hear you describe the setting as a "home away from home". This is exactly the environment that we aim to create, where children feel safe, happy, cared for and excited to learn. I will pass your feedback onto the team, who will grateful for the time you have taken to write your review. Best wishes.


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Review from Pavlina M (Mother of Child) published on 6 December 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Stepping Stones is a lovely preschool. Our daughter started there when she was 2 years old and she developed a lot, specially her speech and social skills. She was fully supported in potty training and went off her nappies in very short time. All staff is really nice and positive, they engage kids in
different activities, they do yoga, signing, kids making their own play-dough etc. They have nice outdoor space and park shared with school. They send photos from almost everyday and using app to track sleep time/ nappy changes. I would recommend the settings to everyone in area.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Early Years Education at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a positive and detailed review. We love to hear feedback from parents and it really supports other parents when making childcare choices that are right for their children. We are very proud of our amazing team who are passionate in providing the best care and education to the children. They are skilled at planning a variety of activities that support the children in their development and keep them keen and eager to learn, I will pass on your feedback to them.
Best wishes
Natalie


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Review from C J (Mother of Child) published on 4 August 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

We have been very pleased with the care and education that our daughter has received here. The staff are kind, considerate and our daughter is always very happy to go to pre-school every day. She experiences a wide variety of activities and learning experiences which she enjoys. She has made good friends
of all ages and has progressed academically as well as socially. I would highly recommend.

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Review from Laura W (Mother of Child) published on 15 March 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All of the staff are really friendly and attentive to my child's needs. Communication is amazing - we get daily and weekly updates and photos. They make us feel like they genuinely care about her and her progression. She looks forward to going to preschool and now runs in with excitement every morning.
The variety of activities are excellent, the perfect blend of adult-led activities and free pay for the children. After doing an extensive search to find the best place for her to develop, we're confident there is no better place than Stepping Stones.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review of the setting. It is great to hear how happy you are with the care your child is receiving and how much she enjoys coming to Stepping Stones. I will pass your feedback on to the team, who will appreciate it.


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Review from S H (Mother of Child) published on 27 January 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A great preschool with an intimate setting where the children get lots of attention. Very knowledgeable, kind and calm staff who take safeguarding very seriously. Communication is fantastic from the staff. I feel happy and secure sending my child here and would highly recommend the setting.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review of Stepping Stones. We are very pleased to hear how happy you are with your childcare choice. I will pass your feedback on to the staff team, who will be very grateful. Thank you for recognising that safeguarding is always a priority for us all.


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Review from Pip C (Mother of Child) published on 20 January 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My sons have been coming to this nursery for the best part of two years, and I couldn't fault it at all. I had a look at roughly three nurseries in the area, and this one felt like a home-from-home environment. All the staff go above and beyond; they treat my son like he is their own, and I know he
is very well looked after. There's brilliant communication between staff and families, and we are updated daily on our children but also kept up to date with their progress throughout the year. My son started two years ago with only saying a few words and was extremely shy; fast forward two years, and he's the most confident little boy who speaks fluently, and I think nursery has massively helped with that.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for your lovely, detailed feedback. It is so wonderful for the team to hear how happy you are with the care your son has received at Stepping Stones. He is such a lovely, happy boy who takes part in all elements of the preschool day, and I agree, the staff do go above and beyond to get to know the children well and support their all-round development.


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Review from E K (Mother of Child) published on 17 January 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son loves it at Stepping Stones! He is so excited to go in the morning and always gets such a lovely welcome from the friendly staff. He has built great relationships with his key workers as well as the rest of the team, and we have been really impressed with the excellent communication, range of
activities and the fantastic outdoor space. His language and social skills have blossomed since he started due to the caring and nurturing environment the staff have created. The staff really make an effort to create fun and engaging activities for the children - baking, exploring, painting, singing and dancing! The setting also feels very clean, secure and welcoming.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a fabulous review. It is so great to hear how happy you are with the care that your son receives at Stepping Stones and how excited he is to come to the setting. I agree that the setting is a very nurturing environment, created purposefully by the staff to ensure the children feel safe, confident and happy. They do plan many exciting activities and really focus on the children's interests to support their learning and development. We have recently had the setting redecorated, and we are very proud of how it is looking. This supports the children in their learning by creating a very calm and neutral backdrop to their activities.


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Review from Katie W (Mother of Child) published on 17 January 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Brilliant preschool. My daughter really struggled with starting, it was very upsetting for her, but the staff did amazingly to make her feel safe and happy, ensuring they could explain the day to her so she knew what to expect throughout the day. My daughter always comes out having had a fun day and
asks to go on her days off. No complaints here - highly recommended. The outside space does at first look to be small but they have access to the large area next to the preschool on the school grounds.

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Review from Charlotte (Mother of Child) published on 22 September 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son attended Stepping Stones for 2 years and he loved every minute. He settled in really quickly and grew with confidence after each session and would always come home full of exciting things to tell us. I trusted the staff completely and my son had a lovely relationship with all of them.
My son
was able to return to preschool in June after months of lockdown and he was so happy to be going back even for a short time to properly say goodbye before starting school in September. The staff made us feel totally at ease and had introduced plenty of additional measures to keep them as safe as possible.
Our youngest is starting soon and we can't wait to be back!

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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.708)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.708) out of 10 for Stepping Stones Pre-School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 9 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.9 out of 5 from 9 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 4.808 for Stepping Stones Pre-School is calculated as follows: ( (85 Excellents x 5) + (18 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 104 Ratings = 4.808

  • 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 4.9 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Stepping Stones Pre-School is based on 9 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 = 3.9

    • 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 22 number of registered child places is 4.4, which has been reached with 9 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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Frequently Asked Questions about Stepping Stones Pre-School

What is the Age Range of Children that Stepping Stones Pre-School accepts?

Stepping Stones Pre-School accepts Children aged from 2 years 0 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Stepping Stones Pre-School Open?

Stepping Stones Pre-School is open: Monday 08:00-17:00, Tuesday 08:00-17:00, Wednesday 08:00-17:00, Thursday 08:00-17:00, Friday 08:00-17:00.

How many Children does Stepping Stones Pre-School have capacity for?

Stepping Stones Pre-School has capacity for a total of 22 Children.

How far is Stepping Stones Pre-School to the centre of Bristol?

9.8 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Stepping Stones Pre-School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Stepping Stones Pre-School has an Enhanced Service – more info.