What Ofsted grade does Stepping Stones have?

Stepping Stones was rated Good at its inspection on 2 May 2024, under the grading Ofsted used before report cards.

How many children can Stepping Stones take?

Ofsted registers Stepping Stones for 32 places at any one time. The average day nursery in Preston has 62.

How much does Stepping Stones cost?

Stepping Stones sets its own fees, so ask it for a price list. As a guide, the average nursery in North West charges £178 a week for 25 hours for a child under 2, before any free hours.

Does Stepping Stones offer 30 hours free childcare?

Any nursery on the Ofsted Early Years Register can offer the funded hours, but each one chooses how many funded places it has and what it charges for meals and extras. Ask Stepping Stones how it offers them.

When was Stepping Stones last inspected?

Ofsted last inspected Stepping Stones on 2 May 2024. The full report is on the Ofsted website.

Which nurseries are near Stepping Stones?

Nearby in PR4: Blue Bear Pre-School & Nursery, CareLoveLearn at Tarleton Nursery, Ashleigh Nursery School.

Stepping Stones

Day nursery in Preston, PR4. Part of the Lancashire council area.

76 Marsden Street, Kirkham, Preston, PR4 2TJ

32 places

2009 registered with Ofsted

40 of 86 in our Preston ranking

£120 a week, 50 hours for a 3 year old, North West average

What Ofsted found

Good Inspected 2 May 2024

Ofsted grades for Stepping Stones, inspection of 2 May 2024
Judgement	Grade
Overall effectiveness	Good
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good

The second of the four grades: a good standard of care and learning. Ofsted now gives report cards instead, so this grade stays until the next inspection.

Read the full Ofsted report Open in maps

What a place could cost

Stepping Stones sets its own prices. These are the averages for day nurseries in North West, for 50 hours a week in term time once the 30 funded hours are taken off.

Child's age	You pay a week	About a month
From 9 months to 2	£136	£429
2 years old	£124	£391
3 to 4 years old	£120	£381

A month here is 38 term-time weeks spread over 12 months. Work out your own hours or check your free hours.

Stepping Stones against Preston

	Stepping Stones	Preston average
Places	32	62
Ofsted outcome	Good	83% rated Good or better

Other nurseries close by

Questions parents ask about Stepping Stones

What Ofsted grade does Stepping Stones have?: Stepping Stones was rated Good at its inspection on 2 May 2024, under the grading Ofsted used before report cards.
How many children can Stepping Stones take?: Ofsted registers Stepping Stones for 32 places at any one time. The average day nursery in Preston has 62.
How much does Stepping Stones cost?: Stepping Stones sets its own fees, so ask it for a price list. As a guide, the average nursery in North West charges £178 a week for 25 hours for a child under 2, before any free hours.
Does Stepping Stones offer 30 hours free childcare?: Any nursery on the Ofsted Early Years Register can offer the funded hours, but each one chooses how many funded places it has and what it charges for meals and extras. Ask Stepping Stones how it offers them.
When was Stepping Stones last inspected?: Ofsted last inspected Stepping Stones on 2 May 2024. The full report is on the Ofsted website.
Which nurseries are near Stepping Stones?: Nearby in PR4: Blue Bear Pre-School & Nursery, CareLoveLearn at Tarleton Nursery, Ashleigh Nursery School.

Nursery list and inspection outcomes from Ofsted's register of childcare providers, as at 30 June 2026.

Fees shown are regional averages from the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026, not any one nursery’s price. Confirm with the nursery before enrolling.

Eligibility rules are the government’s (childcarechoices.gov.uk). Whether a nursery offers the funded hours, and what it charges for meals and consumables, is the nursery’s decision; ask for its funded-hours terms in writing.