First Steps Junior Academy

66a Gilford Road, Portadown, Craigavon BT63 5EF
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9.8 65 Reviews
  • First Steps Junior Academy, Craigavon
First Steps Junior Academy offers a loving homely environment for your child. First Steps has been a vital part of the community for many years. The large house has been renovated and extended to provide a high standard of care and facilities for children aged 3 months to 4 years. Every day at First Steps is fun filled and stimulating with age appropriate resources and activities in every room.

They have a variety of visitors coming to the nursery throughout the year including Jo Jingles, the police, the fire brigade, a nurse and many more. They believe this helps to compliment learning through play and the Pre-School Curriculum.

The garden is securely fenced, allowing the children the opportunity to explore outside and enjoy the large climbing frame. The nursery also provides after school care within the setting. Afternoon collections and summer schemes are available for children attending the local schools.

The cook provides a wide variety of nutritionally balanced meals for every child’s individual dietary requirements. At First Steps, carers strive to deliver a high standard of care ensuring they meet the needs of every individual child.
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Funding & Fees

Full Times - £247
Full Day - £58
Half Day - £41
Two children – Full time - £453.50
Afterschool - £29.50
Morning & Afterschool - £35.50

Fees applicable from April 1st 2025.

Contact First Steps Junior Academy to get a personalised quote.

Contact First Steps Junior Academy to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lisa May Heron (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 22

Total Places for Children

  • 65

Age Range

  • from 0 years 6 months
  • to 5 years 0 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

  • Public Holidays

First Steps Junior Academy Reviews (65)

9.8

First Steps Junior Academy has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.792) out of 10, based on 15 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time First Steps Junior Academy has 65 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 61
  • 4
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Date Published
  • 65
  • 4
  • 12
  • 15
  • 50
Reviewer Connection to First Steps Junior Academy
  • 59
  • 6
Total of 65, showing 61-65
Review from Nathlie M (Mother of Child) published on 24 November 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have used first steps for both my daughter and son and cannot recommend them highly enough!! The standard of care is excellent but even more importantly they offer a homely environment for your children to play and learn. Every mother knows the struggle you go through leaving your little ones to go
to work especially when they are very small and feeling confident they are well looked after and happy makes leaving them that little bit easier!
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Review from L W (Father of Child) published on 19 May 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our two kids have attended 1st Steps for two years so far and we have been more than happy with the love and care they have received. There is an excellent manager and very approachable. The team are very friendly and it's obvious that they genuinely love the kids. We would highly recommend 1st Steps
to anyone.
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Review from Vandana G (Mother of Child) published on 25 April 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child is going there from last year and I am looking amazing changes in him. When he started, he was almost 3 and didn't speak much and now the situation is absolutely opposite. Lol. He is learning a lot over there. I am quite impressed from the activities arranged by nursery, especially different
themes for every month is really works to teach them along playing. Apart from this, outside area for playing is quite big and my little one enjoys to play there. It's always difficult for parents to leave their child while going for work but this place is absolutely amazing where I know my child is safe and have loads of fun and cuddle. Thanks first steps!
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Review from Diane W (Mother of Child) published on 25 April 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl started in First Steps at 9 months old, we were given lots of time to help her settle in and the staff were all very caring and helpful. As she has moved through the rooms I am very happy with how she is progressing and the development leaps she is making. Her key workers always seem
very aware of what they can do to help her develop the areas she has more difficulty with. Most importantly she is happy to go to nursery and tells me all about what she has been doing when I collect her.
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Review from Cathy N (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2015 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended this nursery for a number of years. She is very happy here and has progressed well. I find the staff approachable and helpful and each of my child's key workers has had a genuine interest in my daughter's progress and well being. The management is always on hand to answer any
questions I may have. My child is happy to attend this nursery and I am content and happy that she is well looked after.
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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.792)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.792) out of 10 for First Steps Junior Academy is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 15 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.9 out of 5 from 15 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 4.917 for First Steps Junior Academy is calculated as follows: ( (165 Excellents x 5) + (15 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 180 Ratings = 4.917
  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 4.875 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for First Steps Junior Academy is based on 15 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 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 3.875
    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 65 number of registered child places is 13, which has been reached with 15 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  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

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (14)

Meet the Team (1)

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Lisa May Heron

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2006

Lisa May has worked with us in First Steps Junior Academy since 2006.

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