First Steps (Ruskington)

Meadowbrook, Ruskington, Sleaford NG34 9FJ
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9.7 13 Reviews
  • First Steps (Ruskington), Sleaford
Kindred First Steps (Ruskington) in Sleaford, Lincolnshire gives children the chance to thrive in a quality early years learning environment.

Children have access to a wide range of stimulating activities and the support of caring, motivating staff.

Healthy, tasty food is available for children each day.
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Funding & Fees

At Kindred Nurseries, we believe choosing exceptional childcare should be easy. We offer fees that are simple, transparent, and all-inclusive. We take the stress out of funding by laying every cost out clearly, ensuring no unexpected surprises.

Contact First Steps (Ruskington) to get a personalised quote.

Contact First Steps (Ruskington) to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Olwen Owen (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 17

Total Places for Children

  • 71

Age Range

  • from 0 years 2 months
  • to 4 years 11 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Parking

  • There is parking at the premises.

First Steps (Ruskington) Reviews (13)

9.7

First Steps (Ruskington) has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.740) out of 10, based on 13 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time First Steps (Ruskington) has 13 reviews.

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Review from Gemma D (Mother of Child) published on 25 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are amazing with my son, me and my partner both need to work full time and knowing he loves going to nursery and loves all the staff there is so important to us. Susan and Olwen are always patient and understanding with him and us, he thrives there and has become so confident in himself!
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Review from Kimberley W (Mother of Child) published on 23 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
3 of my children have been here spanning the last 9 years.
This is an exceptional nursery, a great start for all my children. They've been here from 8 weeks old all the way through to leaving to go to school.
The dedication of the staff is second to none, with Susan, Hannah, Tania and Olwen being
key to all of my children, they were also a great support to the whole family during some very difficult times.
Could not recommend this nursery but especially these people enough.
Leaving your children is always hard, but when they are left with people who go above and beyond and care for them just like you would its just that bit easier.
Can not thank them enough for what they did for my family.
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Review from Sarah M (Mother of Child) published on 19 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Such a wonderful welcoming nursery. All the staff are incredibly warm and wonderful! My son loves them all like family, he is always excited to see what new adventures he will get up to. I couldn't wish for better people to take care of my child!
Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your lovely review
We're absolutely delighted to hear how happy your son is and that he feels so connected to the team. Hearing that he sees them like family and comes in excited for new adventures each day is the best feedback we could ask for!
Your kind words about our staff truly mean a lot-they work so hard to create a warm, welcoming environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired.
Thank you again for your trust and support-it's a real privilege to be part of your son's early years journey.
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Review from LAURA G (Mother of Child) published on 18 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Ruskington First Steps is a top class nursery, they have been amazing with our daughter since the moment she started at 9 months. The staff are friendly, personal and always happy to help. They know our little girl inside out. Whenever there is an issue they are quick to resolve. They go above and beyond
in all areas, the effort that was put into a birthday card for our daughter's older brother was amazing. It would be remiss of me to not comment on the exceptional work ethic and attitude of all the staff but specifically the deputy manager who was our daughter's key worker and supported her through settling in period amazingly and continues to care and support her now! 10/10!!!!
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Review from Martin W (Father of Child) published on 18 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My partner and I have been delighted with Kindred First Steps (Ruskington) since our daughter started there several months ago. She looks forward to going each day she's in and it's so reassuring for us to know that she's happy there. The staff are amazing and our daughter couldn't be in better hands.
Communication is excellent and includes brief handover info at pick up, more detailed written feedback in the booklet, photos and reports in the app, as well as timely responses to any emails. There are lots of varied activities throughout the day and regular opportunities to play outside where there is plenty of space and equipment. Our daughter enjoys each day at nursery and that speaks volumes.
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Review from J B (Mother of Child) published on 18 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter attended first steps nursery from the age of 12 months, she always enjoyed going and the staff were amazing with her
All staff and management were very supportive whenever we needed them and were always happy to solve any queries I may have had
They supported myself and my daughter through
the first steps off her autism Assesment to ensure this was ready to go before she started primary school


If I ever have any more children, I would send them back in a heartbeat

Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and heartfelt review.
We're absolutely delighted to hear how happy your daughter was during her time with us and that she always enjoyed coming in-that really means the world to the team. It's especially lovely to know you felt so supported by both staff and management, and that we were able to help you and your daughter through such an important stage of her journey.
Supporting children and families with additional needs is something we take great pride in, so it's wonderful to hear that you felt guided and reassured throughout the autism assessment process as she prepared for school.
We always aim to create a true home from home where children feel safe, understood, and supported to thrive, and where each day is filled with awe and wonder as they grow, explore, and develop in their own unique way.
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Review from Kellie S (Mother of Child) published on 17 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Olwen & Susan, along with all the other members of staff, truly care for the children as if they were their own. My daughter absolutely loves going in and runs straight to them, which is amazing to see when you're trusting someone else to care for your child. It's so reassuring to know she feels happy,
safe, and well looked after.
Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your lovely review.

It means a great deal to hear how happy and settled your daughter is with us, and how confidently she comes in each day-that really is the best reassurance for any parent. We know how important it is to feel you can trust the people caring for your child, so your kind words about the team are deeply appreciated.

Olwen and Susan, along with the whole staff team, will be so pleased to hear your feedback. They truly do care for the children as if they were their own, and it's wonderful to know that comes across in your experience.

Thank you again for your trust and support-it's a pleasure to care for your daughter.
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Review from S B (Mother of Child) published on 17 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our child has been attending this nursery for over a year now - they are excited every day to go & I trust the team there whole heartedly.


They look after them so well, they come home happy, fed & content and I couldn't ask for anything more. They are informative & attentive & make every parent

and child feel like they are their priority.
Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your kind review.

We're delighted to hear that your child is excited to come in each day and that you feel such trust and confidence in our team-that really means a great deal to us. Knowing they come home happy, content, and well cared for is exactly what we strive for.

It's also lovely to hear your appreciation for our communication and attentiveness. We always aim to make every child and family feel valued, supported, and listened to, so your feedback is truly rewarding for the whole team.
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Review from Riley S (Mother of Child) published on 17 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We couldn't be happier with the care our son receives here. From day one, the staff made us feel like family. It's so heartening to see him run into his classroom with a smile every morning. The teachers are genuinely invested in his happiness and development, and we feel so lucky to have found such
a nurturing environment for his early years.
Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your wonderful review.

We're absolutely delighted to hear how happy your son is coming into nursery each morning-that smile and excitement is exactly what we hope to see. It means a great deal to know that you've felt welcomed and supported from day one, and that our team have made you feel like part of the family.

We're also so pleased to hear your kind words about his development and happiness. Creating a nurturing environment where children feel safe, confident, and genuinely cared for is at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you again for your trust and lovely feedback-it's a real privilege to be part of your son's early years journey.
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Review from Chelsea I (Mother of Child) published on 17 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending First Steps Nursery since September 2025, and we have been really pleased with the experience. Since starting, she has come on leaps and bounds with her development, confidence, and social skills.
The staff are always friendly, welcoming, and helpful, which makes a big
difference. It's clear they genuinely care about the children and create a positive, supportive environment for them to learn and grow.
My daughter always comes home happy after her day at nursery. It's reassuring as a parent to know she is enjoying her time there and being well looked after. I would definitely recommend First Steps Nursery to other parents.
Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your lovely review

We're delighted to hear how well your daughter has settled since joining our nursery and how much she is thriving in her development, confidence, and social skills. It's wonderful to know she comes home happy each day-that's exactly what we hope for every child in our care.

Your kind words about our team mean a great deal. We're so pleased you feel welcomed and supported, and that you can see how much the staff genuinely care about creating a positive, nurturing environment where children can learn and grow.

Thank you again for your recommendation and for trusting us with your daughter's early years-it's a real privilege to be part of her early years journey.
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Review from A C (Mother of Child) published on 17 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
After so many recommendations from family, friends and colleagues we never had any doubt that we would send our children to First Steps. It has such a fantastic reputation in the local area. My little boy joined in April 2024 and has thrived in their care. It is a fantastic nursery with brilliant provision
and kind, caring staff who get to know the children so well! They have a fantastic space and outdoor area which is always used to support the children's learning and development. We are so happy we chose First Steps.
Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your wonderful review

It means a great deal to hear that First Steps came so highly recommended to you, and we're absolutely delighted that your experience has lived up to those expectations. We're so pleased your little boy has been thriving since joining us-watching children grow and flourish is exactly why we do what we do.

Your kind words about our team and environment are truly appreciated. We're proud to offer a space where children feel happy, supported, and inspired, and it's lovely to hear how much you value both our indoor and outdoor learning opportunities.

Thank you again for your trust and support-we're so glad you chose First Steps and feel privileged to be part of your little boy's early years journey.
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Review from Lucy F (Mother of Child) published on 17 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
First Steps is an incredible nursery, and we feel genuinely lucky to send our children there.


From day one, the team have been warm, patient, and truly invested in helping each child feel safe and confident. Our little one's settled in so quickly thanks to the nurturing atmosphere and the way the

staff take time to understand each child's personality.


The facilities are clean and well organised with a lovely outdoor space to maximise time spent outdoors which our children love. The activities are creative, varied, and thoughtfully planned, and we've seen such a positive boost in confidence, communication, and independence. They love going in every morning and come home full of stories about what they've been up to, and especially the food they've eaten!


Our children have flourished at First Steps, and we would confidently recommend it to any family seeking high quality childcare.

Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and thoughtful review

We're absolutely delighted to hear how happy your children are at First Steps and how quickly your little one settled in. Creating a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels safe, confident, and understood is at the heart of what we do, so it means a great deal to know this has been your experience.

It's wonderful to hear about the positive impact on their confidence, communication, and independence, and that they come home full of stories (and enjoying the food too-that's always a big win! ). We're also so pleased you value the variety of activities and our outdoor space, as we love providing opportunities for children to explore, create, and learn in different ways.

Your recommendation means so much to us-thank you for trusting us with your children's early years. It's a real privilege to be part of their journey
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Review from K H (Mother of Child) published on 17 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Ruskington First Steps is a lovely nursery where both of my children have attended. The dedicated and friendly staff make the nursery what it is. They genuinely care about the children, they have a smile on their faces every day and it's clear they have a wonderful relationship with the children. My
son started in preschool and he was a shy little boy but settled in quicker than expected due to the time and effort of the staff. My daughter has attended since she was a few months old and she has grown in confidence. They offer a range of activities daily, my daughter especially loves singing and dancing with the staff. I find their policies to be fair and I feel my child is safe and well looked after.
Reply from Niki McCormick, Marketing Admin at First Steps (Ruskington)Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review.

We're so pleased to hear that both of your children have had such positive experiences with us at Ruskington First Steps. It means a great deal to know that the care and dedication of our team has made such a difference, and your lovely words about their relationships with the children will mean so much to them.

It's wonderful to hear how your son settled in and grew in confidence, and equally special to know your daughter has flourished since joining us as a baby. We love hearing that she enjoys singing and dancing-those joyful moments are such an important part of nursery life!

Thank you also for your reassurance in our policies and care. Knowing you feel your child is safe, happy, and well looked after is exactly what we strive for every day.

We really appreciate your support and for trusting us with your children's early years.
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Current Review Score: 9.7 (9.740)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.7 (9.740) out of 10 for First Steps (Ruskington) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 13 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.7 out of 5 from 13 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 5.000 for First Steps (Ruskington) is calculated as follows: ( (154 Excellents x 5) ) ÷ 154 Ratings = 5
  2. 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 4.74 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for First Steps (Ruskington) is based on 13 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 3.825
    2. 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 71 number of registered child places is 14.2. 13 Positive Reviews ÷ 14.2 = 0.915
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. 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 (8)

Meet the Team (1)

Olwen

Olwen Owen

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Hi. I'm Olwen, the nursery manager here at First Steps Day Nursery (Ruskington). We are now part of the award-winning Kindred Nurseries family.

Frequently Asked Questions about First Steps (Ruskington)

What is the Age Range of Children that First Steps (Ruskington) accepts?

First Steps (Ruskington) accepts Children aged from 0 years 2 months to 4 years 11 months.

What Days & Hours is First Steps (Ruskington) Open?

First Steps (Ruskington) is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.

How many Children does First Steps (Ruskington) have capacity for?

First Steps (Ruskington) has capacity for a total of 71 Children.

How far is First Steps (Ruskington) to the centre of Sleaford?

3.5 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 First Steps (Ruskington) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. First Steps (Ruskington) has an Enhanced Service - more info.