Business Details
Trusted Child Care & Early Education in Horsforth
First Steps Nursery at Froebelian, established in Horsforth, provides high-quality childcare for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Our approach is rooted in the Froebelian educational philosophy, emphasizing creative play and child-led learning. With an Ofsted Outstanding rating since inception, we combine a purpose-built environment designed by early years specialists with a team of passionate, experienced practitioners. We prioritize individualized care, fostering independence, academic foundations, and social development. Our nursery operates 51 weeks a year, offering flexible hours from 7:30am to 6:00pm.The dedicated staff, selected for their expertise and compassion, maintain strong partnerships with families to support each child's unique growth. Nutritional meals prepared on-site by our chef meet dietary needs while teaching healthy habits. Testimonials highlight our nurturing atmosphere, effective communication, and the positive impact on children's confidence and school readiness. As part of The Froebelian Family, we uphold a legacy of educational excellence while continuously innovating to meet modern childcare standards.
Services
Baby Room
Toddler Room
Pre-school Room
Healthy Meals
Learning Journals
Highlights and features
- Ofsted Outstanding rating since 2012 across all evaluation categories
- Specialist early years team with Froebelian educational philosophy expertise
- Purpose-built nursery designed by early years specialists
- On-site chef providing nutritionally balanced meals for young children
- Established partnerships with families for personalized child development
Associations and certifications
- Ofsted Outstanding
What people say
Fantastic nursery
Caring staff
Thrived and had brilliant experiences
Warm and welcoming atmosphere
Highly recommend
Services
Baby Room
Our Baby Room provides nurturing care for children aged 3 months to 2 years. Specially designed environments with age-appropriate resources support sensory development and early learning through play. Staff ratios of 1:3 ensure personalized attention while fostering independence. Daily routines follow individual care plans with regular parent updates.
Toddler Room
The Toddler Room caters for children aged 2 to 3 years with structured activities promoting social skills and cognitive development. Our Froebelian approach encourages exploration through themed play areas and outdoor learning. Staff with specialist early years qualifications facilitate group interactions while maintaining 1:4 staff ratios for optimal engagement.
Pre-school Room
Our Pre-school Room prepares children aged 3 to 5 years for school transition using Froebel's play-based methodology. Thematic learning combines literacy, numeracy and creative arts with daily outdoor exploration. Individual learning journals track progress against Early Years Foundation Stage requirements, with regular parent-teacher consultations ensuring continuity of development.
Healthy Meals
Nutritionist-approved menus provide balanced nutrition for young children, featuring freshly prepared meals cooked on-site daily. Our chef accommodates dietary requirements while teaching healthy eating habits through interactive mealtimes. Menus include morning snacks, hot lunches with vegetarian options, and afternoon tea with fresh fruit in a family-style dining environment.
Learning Journals
Individual learning journals document each child's development through observations, photographs and work samples. Parents access digital updates weekly, with printed portfolios provided termly. This Froebelian approach to assessment focuses on holistic development, capturing key milestones and emerging interests to inform personalized learning plans.
People
Ruth Knowles
Nursery Manager
Ruth Knowles leads First Steps Nursery with over 20 years' experience in early years education. Her Froebelian approach emphasizes child-led learning through creative play. She oversees staff training and curriculum development while maintaining close parent partnerships to ensure each child's unique needs are met.
Questions
What age range do you cater for?
We provide childcare for children aged 3 months to 5 years, with dedicated rooms for babies, toddlers and pre-school children.
What are your operating hours?
The nursery is open from 7:30am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, 51 weeks a year.
What is your Ofsted rating?
We have maintained Ofsted Outstanding ratings across all categories since our first inspection in 2012.
How do you support children's learning?
Our Froebelian approach emphasizes creative play and child-led exploration, with structured activities that develop literacy, numeracy and social skills.
What are mealtimes like?
Nutritious meals are prepared on-site daily, with family-style dining encouraging social interaction and healthy eating habits.
How do you communicate with parents?
We maintain regular communication through daily updates, digital learning journals, and termly parent-teacher consultations.
