What is the Age Range of Children that Step Start Braintree accepts?

Step Start Braintree accepts Children aged from 0 years 6 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Step Start Braintree Open?

Step Start Braintree is open: 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.

How many Children does Step Start Braintree have capacity for?

Step Start Braintree has capacity for a total of 76 Children.

How far is Step Start Braintree to the centre of Braintree?

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

Step Start Braintree, John Ray House, Bocking End, Braintree, Essex CM7 9AA

Review from Cristina R (Mother of Child) published on 17 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Highly recommend! Staff is amazing, they know how to deal with child needs, keep children clean and welfare at high standards, assuring they have been fed and hydrated, also they have amazing activities and games to offer on-site. We’ve had a bad experience with the previous nursery but since we started

at Step Start Nursery I felt safe and confident to leave my child in their hands. From manager to cleaner, they are all brilliant. I do appreciate that they keep you updated with everything via the app and ask you for your opinion prior to making decisions towards your own child which is so nice as you are always in control. Awesome nursery!

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Review from Lauren D (Mother of Child) published on 17 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our son attended in 2021 when he was 2.5 years old for four to five months before attending preschool and our daughter currently attends at the age of 2. Our experience with the nursery has been nothing shy of excellent. We have great relationships with the team members who look after our daughter directly

and also other members of staff across the nursery. Through her learning journey at Step Start, we have seen so much development in a short space of time and it’s testament to the effort and imagination of the staff in her room. Her days are filled with lots of free play, seasonal activities and structured play/circle time. She has made strong bonds with both staff and peers alike and goes to nursery happy and returns home covered in paint, mud and food - all signs of a fun-filled day! Communication between us as parents and staff is at the correct level and we are very happy our daughter has a place at Step Start. Huge appreciation to all the members of the Starting and First Steps rooms.

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

Overall Experience

Our son attended Step Start Braintree from Dec 2021 until September 2023.
Our son is a SEN child who is autistic, nonverbal and has developmental delay and sensory processing disorder.
Step Start have been amazing! SEN leads (room lead and son’s key worker) worked very closely alongside our son's

special needs school which he attended 3 days a week and Step Start 2 days a week.
We had regular meetings with them where our son's One Plan was updated and written. The care and dedication of the staff is exceptional.

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Review from M E (Mother of Child) published on 1 June 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

My child has been at Step Start for just over two years, and his progression in his development has been fantastic. They have always been very supportive when it came to naps and toilet training in the past and now when dealing with fussy eating and school preparation activities. I feel they listen

when parents make any suggestions or requests. For example, I asked if the nursery could help my son in learning how to write his name before starting school in September. He has gone from not even trying to now write some of the letters! Thank you, Step Start Braintree.

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Review from Darren K (Father of Child) published on 11 May 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Step Start Braintree has always been great. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with dealing with the members of staff at Braintree. My son is always happy to go to nursery and play with his friends and always speaks very highly of the teachers. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone that

asks.

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Review from H P (Mother of Child) published on 4 May 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Do not send your child here! Especially if they have any additional needs. My daughter was neglected and she turned from a happy bubbly little girl to a very frustrated and sad little girl. She would scream as soon as we got there. Her nappy wasn’t changed as it would be hanging down upon pick up, her

clothes were filthy, I was told she was only crying because she kept asking to be picked up and was looking for mummy. (My daughter is nonverbal) I picked her up and could hear her in distress from the car park. She would drag me away as soon as I picked her up. Honestly, my heart breaks! She is now in a loving preschool where she was embraced and not just a dummy put in her mouth to quiet her (my daughter had stopped using a dummy at age 1 and this was a constant battle as I saw pictures with her having one when I didn’t even pack one!) staff have no idea of any additional needs and I’m fuming that my daughter was allowed to be treated this way just because she has additional needs.

Reply from Sophie England, Area Manager at Step Start Braintree

Thank you for sharing your concerns about your experience with Step Start Nurseries Braintree. As a senior nursery representative, I am disappointed to hear about your dissatisfaction and want to address your concerns while respecting the privacy of all involved.

We take the well-being and happiness of every child in our care very seriously, and we are committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for all children, including those with additional needs. Our staff are trained to recognise and respond to the individual requirements of each child. Our team has an experienced SEN Coordinator who has worked within the local authority for over 10 years, managing the SEN coordination within the Council. In addition, we work closely with parents to ensure that we meet their child's unique needs.

We understand that your experience was some time ago, and our communication could have been better during that time. However, it's been something that we needed to improve all around, so we have been working diligently to refine and enhance our process since then. We are committed to continually improving the care we provide to meet the needs of all children and families.

We value open communication and constructive feedback, as it helps us improve ourselves and the care we provide.

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Review from Nathan J (Father of Child) published on 2 May 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My child has been attending this nursery for a few years now. He was 6 months old when he started, this was when the nursery first opened. He is now 3 and getting ready for school. The staff have been welcoming and approachable, and we all have an excellent relationship with both practitioners and management

team. We love seeing and hearing about his days there, we get daily photos, great handovers and the app tells us everything else we need to know. I have had great experiences with parent days, stay and plays and other events that have been held there, and we always look forward to joining in. We would like to thank the nursery for taking care of our son and being a large part of his development and supporting him to be the happy little boy that we know. So thank you very much to everyone involved.

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Review from N G (Aunt of Child) published on 21 April 2023
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Overall Experience

I can’t speak highly enough of this nursery. I regularly pick my nephew up and he absolutely loves being there. He can’t wait to let me know what he has been up to during the day and the staff are fantastic at keeping us up to date throughout the day. The facilities are amazing and the staff are so

friendly.

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Review from T P (Mother of Child) published on 21 April 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

My child learns so much at Step Start.
I appreciate having their guidance on his development.
I also know that he's really well-fed there.

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Review from W G (Grandmother of Child) published on 17 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Picked up my grandson from nursery this week for the first time and was amazed initially at the beautiful building and then at the wonderful outside space for the children. I was then greeted by a member of staff who took time to discuss the days activities and engaged my grandson in telling me what

they had been doing. He is clearly very content at the nursery and thoroughly enjoys his time there. The staff were wonderful and clearly love working with children. What a fabulous nursery!

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Review from C B (Mother of Child) published on 16 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My child has been with Step Start from the very first room, the staff always keep you updated which is very reassuring when you’re leaving your little one. My child has gone from a little baby that was just sitting up to a confident little toddler who goes in with a smile and a wave. The staff are caring,

attentive and want to support you with developing your child. They do such a range of activities with the children and we love looking at the photos each day to see what they’ve been up to!

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Review from S H (Mother of Child) published on 16 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We love this nursery. The staff are thoughtful, communicative and observant, and everyone seems to know everyone else, even though it's a big setting and there are multiple rooms and different staff in each room. The settling in process was well-planned and managed. Since we've been attending the nursery,

the resources available to the children in the outside play space have increased, and it looks more inviting every time we turn up! The nursery has been transparent about its Ofsted journey which inspires faith and confidence in their ability to respond to feedback. Our son is happy, stimulated (with regular messy and creative play, singing and stories) and well-cared for by the team in Starting Steps. The nursery uses the Family app which is an excellent tool for monitoring your child's day as it unfolds, and they use it to communicate with us regularly. We couldn't be happier or more confident in our decision to place our little boy here.

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Review from Sara T (Mother of Child) published on 25 March 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

This nursery has been practically excellent with the care of my child. I love the communication amongst staff and how anyone is able to competently update you on how your child is doing. Then also the benefit of the family app updates with pictures and reports on your child’s general development really

assures you that they have your child’s interest at heart. I appreciate the care and time they take in being creative with the activities and that it is child led which is evident to see and how the staff always have time to hear any concerns and also offer advice. Overall it’s been a really great experience.

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Review from Patricia R (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Staff are really kind to the children, and they create an environment of confidence and independence for them. Since my daughter is in Steps Start, she is more autonomous and she has improved her curiosity about what's around her. She settled in pretty well. Via the app, we have lots of updates on the

daily routines, and the staff share new improvements and weekly share some sign-language words to practice at home. They also do a lot of activities and baking with the little ones, which they then give us when collecting. When possible, children spend time in the garden with different toys and trails to get more knowledge. They also organise some "stay and play" days for parents to stay a couple of hours playing in the nursery, and they have recently created a forum with parents to work with in new activities and receive feedback.

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Review from S H (Mother of Child) published on 14 July 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

My son has been attending Step Start for a few months now, and in that time, he has grown in confidence and is so excited and happy arriving each morning. Staff know him well and always welcome him in. We get regular communication, so we know how he is getting on and how to help him at home. I am confident

he is well-cared for, and his needs are met. I value the detailed handover when I collect him as well as photos and updates from his key person. My son benefits greatly from attending Step Start Braintree, and I cannot thank the staff enough for all they do!

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Review from Claire H (Mother of Child) published on 13 January 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

My daughter has been attending the nursery for over a year now. She loves it. She has made so much progress; she has the support and care of the staff. The nursery is spotless, and the equipment for the children to play with is great. I am so happy we signed up to Step Start Braintree, and I always

recommend the nursery to any of my friends. My daughter loves the staff and has made some special bonds.

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Review from Nikita T (Mother of Child) published on 20 December 2021
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

My little girl has taken some time to settle in, but the team have worked hard to make her feel at home. The team always greet us with a smile, and my little girl now leaves with a smile. The team and management are also very accommodating when we require extra days, and overall, very responsive. Really

nice team.

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Review from Michelle L (Mother of Child) published on 27 October 2021
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

I had my little boy during Covid. Looking for a nursery on my return to work was daunting, and I had a real worry - how not just he would cope, but myself and my husband also. However, I had no reason to worry, as Step Start Braintree has been the absolute best. My little boy has thrived into a confident,

happy, secure toddler. My mind is at ease during work, knowing how well-loved and cared for he is. An amazing nursery without outstanding, loving, caring employees! Thank you.

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Review from J M (Mother of Child) published on 16 February 2021
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

Our daughter has only been here for a week. She thrives and plays happily. The staff are friendly and welcoming as soon as the kids arrive. You can tell there is a strong bond between staff and kids. The nursery has modern facilities, the best toys and a great open space. I highly recommend this place

to any nervous parents wondering where to send their child.

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Review from Gemma M (Mother of Child) published on 6 January 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My 14-month-old has been going to Step Start Braintree for a couple of months now on a part-time basis. From the initial contact and tour to the settling in sessions up to now, the staff have been fantastic. My little one is a sensitive soul and has taken some time to adjust, but the staff have been

great, understanding and flexible. They have worked with us and him to make it a positive experience, especially as he has only known lockdown due to the pandemic. The staff really do care about him, his interests and his progress. It feels like a collaboration. The communication between staff and parent is amazing. The Famly app allows you to keep in touch whenever needed, and to get updates throughout the day is so reassuring. The staff have all been really warm and welcoming. They are lovely and are great with him. They're also fantastic with his dairy and soy allergies, which is so reassuring. We feel like he is in safe hands. The building, garden and facilities are fab. Very happy.

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