First Steps Junior Academy

66a Gilford Road, Portadown, Craigavon BT63 5EF
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9.9 61 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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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

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.

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 (61)

9.9

First Steps Junior Academy has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.904) out of 10, based on 13 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time First Steps Junior Academy has 61 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 57
  • 4
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Date Published
  • 61
  • 0
  • 8
  • 13
  • 48
Reviewer Connection to First Steps Junior Academy
  • 55
  • 6
Total of 61, showing 61-61
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.
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.904)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.904) 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 13 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 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 4.904 for First Steps Junior Academy is calculated as follows: ( (141 Excellents x 5) + (15 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 156 Ratings = 4.904
  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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for First Steps Junior Academy 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 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    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 13 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.