Buggy Store
We have a safe place for you to store your buggy at our nursery.
Stepping Stones
Day Nursery
Where children are encouraged towards making the most of their interests and talents, and to develop their independence
Stepping Stones
Nursery School
74 Eling Lane
Eling
Southampton
SO40 9GF
Opening Times:
Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 18:00
Drop-Off Directions & Parking
On street parking available
Call Us
Stepping Stones Day Nursery
Stepping Stones Day Nursery, located on Eling Lane, is set within a spacious converted house that provides a welcoming, home‑from‑home environment for families. The upstairs of the nursery is dedicated to our youngest children, with a cosy playroom and sleep space designed to nurture comfort, security and early development.
Downstairs, children aged from two years to school age enjoy bright, engaging rooms for early years learning, creativity and sensory exploration, with direct access to our large garden. These thoughtfully designed spaces encourage children to play, discover and develop confidence at their own pace, supported by staff who model positive relationships and provide a caring, inspiring start to each child’s learning journey.
Children also benefit from a secure, all‑weather outdoor area where they can explore, investigate and enjoy time in nature. We believe that a child’s first steps into nursery lay the foundations for independence, and we are committed to providing exceptional resources, nurturing environments and holistic support to help every child thrive.
Nursery Facilities
Meals & Snacks
We provide healthy meals and snacks as well as fresh water and milk. Our menus are seasonal and are certified by a children’s dietician ensuring the right balance of ingredients for the children. All dietary requirements are catered for by our professional chefs.
Outdoor Garden
Our outdoor space offers an environment to explore and develop and provides a place where imagination comes to life.
Fees & Availability
Nursery fees are dependent on the age of your child and your specific childcare requirements. Funding options are available, including the government’s 15 hours funded childcare, and we also accept the Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme and childcare vouchers.
To request pricing and availability, please call us on 0330 333 1080 or complete the Request a Call Back form below.
How we learn at Stepping Stones Day Nursery
Babies
- Our baby room cares for up to 9 babies and toddlers with a strong 1:3 staffing ratio, creating a safe, calm, and homely environment that fully supports each child’s individual routines and needs.
- Our dedicated staff team works closely with parents to mirror home routines within the nursery, providing consistency and reassurance, supported by a daily diary that shares details of mealtimes, activities, and important information for your child’s next day.
- Janine, our enthusiastic nursery chef, prepares fresh, hearty homemade meals each day, carefully tailored to suit individual needs including weaning stages, preferences, and allergies.
- The room is thoughtfully resourced with a wide range of open-ended natural materials and sensory activities that encourage curiosity, exploration, and rich experiences to support cognitive and language development.
- Babies and toddlers benefit from cosy Hygge-inspired spaces and a peaceful sleep room with wooden cots and beds, gentle music, and a calm atmosphere, ensuring rest routines feel familiar, comforting, and just like home.
Early Years
- Our Early Years setting cares for up to 21 children, with strong staffing ratios of 1:4 for two-year-olds and 1:8 for three- and four-year-olds, ensuring children are well supported in a calm and nurturing environment.
- We offer a dedicated sensory room filled with lights, mirrors, and tactile resources that encourage children to listen, touch, explore colour, light, and shadow, providing calming, enriching sensory experiences that support brain development and are enjoyed by babies, toddlers, and early years children alike.
- A well-resourced creative room includes an indoor sand area and potion station with herbs and spices, giving children the freedom to explore, experiment, make choices, and lead their own creative learning experiences.
- Our main playroom is designed as a child-sized family home, complete with cosy rugs, armchairs, a wooden kitchen, and an authentic dressing-up area, creating a familiar and engaging space that supports imaginative play and social development.
- Practitioners plan inviting provocations and learning opportunities following The Curiosity Approach, encouraging independence, teamwork, and safe risk-taking, while mealtimes are treated as social occasions where children lay tables, self-serve, and develop communication, turn-taking, and healthy eating habits.
Garden
- We make full use of our outdoor space in all weather, encouraging children to enjoy the outdoors daily and asking families to dress children appropriately, as we believe there is no bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.
- The Early Years playroom opens directly onto the garden, which is accessible throughout the day and includes a sheltered outdoor area with soft flooring, allowing children to continue exploring and playing even during poorer weather.
- The garden offers a rich variety of surfaces including AstroTurf, decking, grass, and mud, providing valuable underfoot sensory experiences, with the mud kitchen being a firm favourite where children can dig, create, and use their imagination freely.
- Children develop problem-solving, teamwork, and social skills through a wide range of construction activities using loose parts such as guttering, wood, tyres, and crates.
- We promote a strong connection with nature through planting flowers, herbs, and vegetables, supporting interests in wildlife with bug hotels and bird feeders, and enriching learning further through regular walks and outings in the local community.
Food & Nutrition
Our delicious, healthy and nutritious food is sourced from trusted suppliers.
All dietary and religious needs are met.
Our experienced team would love to meet you and your little one, so book a visit today and we will show you everything our nursery has to offer during your own personal tour at a time to suit you.