Step Start Braintree

Both my children have attended this nursery since December and they always seem to have had a really good day and come out smiley and happy. The staff are always quick to update me if they need to inform me of anything (via the app or phone call if necessary). My eldest child has been going through some medical issues and the nursery have been fantastic with trying to accommodate her to make her feel more included and to help encourage her development. The SEN team have been brilliant and are extremely knowledgeable which gives me some peace of mind whilst my daughter is at nursery. There are sometimes quite long wait times when dropping off and picking up the children (I'm sure a better system could be put in place) but I understand it's a busy nursery and the staff do always apologise when the wait has been really long. Overall we have had a great experience of this nursery.

Highly recommend! Staff is amazing, they know how to deal with child needs, keep children clean and welfare at high standards, assuring they have been fed and hydrated, also they have amazing activities and games to offer on-site. We’ve had a bad experience with the previous nursery but since we started at Step Start Nursery I felt safe and confident to leave my child in their hands. From manager to cleaner, they are all brilliant. I do appreciate that they keep you updated with everything via the app and ask you for your opinion prior to making decisions towards your own child which is so nice as you are always in control. Awesome nursery!

Our son attended in 2021 when he was 2.5 years old for four to five months before attending preschool and our daughter currently attends at the age of 2. Our experience with the nursery has been nothing shy of excellent. We have great relationships with the team members who look after our daughter directly and also other members of staff across the nursery. Through her learning journey at Step Start, we have seen so much development in a short space of time and it’s testament to the effort and imagination of the staff in her room. Her days are filled with lots of free play, seasonal activities and structured play/circle time. She has made strong bonds with both staff and peers alike and goes to nursery happy and returns home covered in paint, mud and food - all signs of a fun-filled day! Communication between us as parents and staff is at the correct level and we are very happy our daughter has a place at Step Start. Huge appreciation to all the members of the Starting and First Steps rooms.

We had regular meetings with them where our son's One Plan was updated and written. The care and dedication of the staff is exceptional.

My child has been at Step Start for just over two years, and his progression in his development has been fantastic. They have always been very supportive when it came to naps and toilet training in the past and now when dealing with fussy eating and school preparation activities. I feel they listen when parents make any suggestions or requests. For example, I asked if the nursery could help my son in learning how to write his name before starting school in September. He has gone from not even trying to now write some of the letters! Thank you, Step Start Braintree.

Step Start Braintree has always been great. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with dealing with the members of staff at Braintree. My son is always happy to go to nursery and play with his friends and always speaks very highly of the teachers. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone that asks.

Do not send your child here! Especially if they have any additional needs. My daughter was neglected and she turned from a happy bubbly little girl to a very frustrated and sad little girl. She would scream as soon as we got there. Her nappy wasn’t changed as it would be hanging down upon pick up, her clothes were filthy, I was told she was only crying because she kept asking to be picked up and was looking for mummy. (My daughter is nonverbal) I picked her up and could hear her in distress from the car park. She would drag me away as soon as I picked her up. Honestly, my heart breaks! She is now in a loving preschool where she was embraced and not just a dummy put in her mouth to quiet her (my daughter had stopped using a dummy at age 1 and this was a constant battle as I saw pictures with her having one when I didn’t even pack one!) staff have no idea of any additional needs and I’m fuming that my daughter was allowed to be treated this way just because she has additional needs.

My child has been attending this nursery for a few years now. He was 6 months old when he started, this was when the nursery first opened. He is now 3 and getting ready for school. The staff have been welcoming and approachable, and we all have an excellent relationship with both practitioners and management team. We love seeing and hearing about his days there, we get daily photos, great handovers and the app tells us everything else we need to know. I have had great experiences with parent days, stay and plays and other events that have been held there, and we always look forward to joining in. We would like to thank the nursery for taking care of our son and being a large part of his development and supporting him to be the happy little boy that we know. So thank you very much to everyone involved.

I can’t speak highly enough of this nursery. I regularly pick my nephew up and he absolutely loves being there. He can’t wait to let me know what he has been up to during the day and the staff are fantastic at keeping us up to date throughout the day. The facilities are amazing and the staff are so friendly.

I also know that he's really well-fed there.

Picked up my grandson from nursery this week for the first time and was amazed initially at the beautiful building and then at the wonderful outside space for the children. I was then greeted by a member of staff who took time to discuss the days activities and engaged my grandson in telling me what they had been doing. He is clearly very content at the nursery and thoroughly enjoys his time there. The staff were wonderful and clearly love working with children. What a fabulous nursery!

My child has been with Step Start from the very first room, the staff always keep you updated which is very reassuring when you’re leaving your little one. My child has gone from a little baby that was just sitting up to a confident little toddler who goes in with a smile and a wave. The staff are caring, attentive and want to support you with developing your child. They do such a range of activities with the children and we love looking at the photos each day to see what they’ve been up to!

We love this nursery. The staff are thoughtful, communicative and observant, and everyone seems to know everyone else, even though it's a big setting and there are multiple rooms and different staff in each room. The settling in process was well-planned and managed. Since we've been attending the nursery, the resources available to the children in the outside play space have increased, and it looks more inviting every time we turn up! The nursery has been transparent about its Ofsted journey which inspires faith and confidence in their ability to respond to feedback. Our son is happy, stimulated (with regular messy and creative play, singing and stories) and well-cared for by the team in Starting Steps. The nursery uses the Family app which is an excellent tool for monitoring your child's day as it unfolds, and they use it to communicate with us regularly. We couldn't be happier or more confident in our decision to place our little boy here.

This nursery has been practically excellent with the care of my child. I love the communication amongst staff and how anyone is able to competently update you on how your child is doing. Then also the benefit of the family app updates with pictures and reports on your child’s general development really assures you that they have your child’s interest at heart. I appreciate the care and time they take in being creative with the activities and that it is child led which is evident to see and how the staff always have time to hear any concerns and also offer advice. Overall it’s been a really great experience.

Staff are really kind to the children, and they create an environment of confidence and independence for them. Since my daughter is in Steps Start, she is more autonomous and she has improved her curiosity about what's around her. She settled in pretty well. Via the app, we have lots of updates on the daily routines, and the staff share new improvements and weekly share some sign-language words to practice at home. They also do a lot of activities and baking with the little ones, which they then give us when collecting. When possible, children spend time in the garden with different toys and trails to get more knowledge. They also organise some "stay and play" days for parents to stay a couple of hours playing in the nursery, and they have recently created a forum with parents to work with in new activities and receive feedback.

My son has been attending Step Start for a few months now, and in that time, he has grown in confidence and is so excited and happy arriving each morning. Staff know him well and always welcome him in. We get regular communication, so we know how he is getting on and how to help him at home. I am confident he is well-cared for, and his needs are met. I value the detailed handover when I collect him as well as photos and updates from his key person. My son benefits greatly from attending Step Start Braintree, and I cannot thank the staff enough for all they do!

My daughter has been attending the nursery for over a year now. She loves it. She has made so much progress; she has the support and care of the staff. The nursery is spotless, and the equipment for the children to play with is great. I am so happy we signed up to Step Start Braintree, and I always recommend the nursery to any of my friends. My daughter loves the staff and has made some special bonds.

My little girl has taken some time to settle in, but the team have worked hard to make her feel at home. The team always greet us with a smile, and my little girl now leaves with a smile. The team and management are also very accommodating when we require extra days, and overall, very responsive. Really nice team.

I had my little boy during Covid. Looking for a nursery on my return to work was daunting, and I had a real worry - how not just he would cope, but myself and my husband also. However, I had no reason to worry, as Step Start Braintree has been the absolute best. My little boy has thrived into a confident, happy, secure toddler. My mind is at ease during work, knowing how well-loved and cared for he is. An amazing nursery without outstanding, loving, caring employees! Thank you.

Our daughter has only been here for a week. She thrives and plays happily. The staff are friendly and welcoming as soon as the kids arrive. You can tell there is a strong bond between staff and kids. The nursery has modern facilities, the best toys and a great open space. I highly recommend this place to any nervous parents wondering where to send their child.