# First Steps

First Steps is a full-day nursery at 1 Pond Road, London, SE3 9JL, in Blackheath Park, Greenwich. It is registered for 32 children and takes children aged 9 months to 5 years. It opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Thu; 08:00–17:30, Fri, term time only. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in March 2022, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. Its published full-day fee is £95 (nursery website, November 2026). It offers funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds, and accepts Tax-Free Childcare. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 23 reviews (November 2026).

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/first-steps-ey557077  
Last checked 11 November 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Full-day nursery
- Address: 1 Pond Road, London, SE3 9JL
- Ages: 9 months to 5 years
- Opening hours: 08:00–18:00, Mon–Thu; 08:00–17:30, Fri
- Weeks open: term time only
- Registered places: 32
- Funded childcare: funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds
- Tax-Free Childcare: yes
- Phone: 020 8852 1233
- Website: http://www.firststepsgroup.co.uk/
- Ofsted URN: EY557077

## Ofsted and official records

Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 28 March 2022, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

- Quality of education: Good
- Behaviour and attitudes: Good
- Personal development: Good
- Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective.

Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY557077

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since May 2018 (Reference EY557077). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY557077)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 28 March 2022). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY557077)
- Registered places: 32 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY557077)
- Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 27 January 2026). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/741737)

## Fees

| Age | Full day | Half day | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | £95 (£9.50 an hour) | £48 | £10 |

Price per hour is the day rate over a 10-hour day, from the nursery's opening hours.

- Registration fee: £30
- Deposit: £50

Source: nursery website (https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/sessions-fees), 11 November 2026.

Funded hours: 2-year-olds, 30 hours.

## Hours and ages

- Monday to Thursday: 08:00–18:00
- Friday: 08:00–17:30
- Ages: 9 months to 5 years
- Weeks open: term time only
- Sessions: full day, half day and per hour

## Getting there

Address: 1 Pond Road, London, SE3 9JL

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.464986,0.013338

- Station: Blackheath, 0.2 miles
- Station: Kidbrooke, 0.6 miles
- Station: Lee, 1.0 miles
- 5 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Blackheath, 0.3 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.1 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.3 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.4 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.4 miles

© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

In Greenwich there are about 3.1 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings

- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 23 reviews (as of 11 November 2026)

## About: a day here

### Learning and approach

- Early phonics (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/eyfs-curriculum)

### Food

- Healthy snacks provided (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/sessions-fees)

### Outdoors

- Own garden (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/outdoor-play)
- Daily outdoor play (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/outdoor-play)
- All-weather outdoor play (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/outdoor-play)

### Care and routines

- Key person system (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/parent-info)
- Term-time only (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/sessions-fees)
- Half-day sessions (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/sessions-fees)
- Sibling discount (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/sessions-fees)
- After-school club (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/after-school-club)
- Breakfast club (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/sessions-fees)

### SEND and inclusion

- Inclusive setting (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/about-us)

### Extras and activities

- Cooking activities (source: nursery website, https://firststepsgroup.co.uk/after-school-club)

## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heath House Preparatory School |  | 3–11 |  | yes | 0.2 miles |
| Brooklands Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Good (January 2024) | yes | 0.2 miles |
| John Ball Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Outstanding (May 2024) | yes | 0.4 miles |
| Wingfield Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Outstanding (November 2022) | yes | 0.5 miles |
| St Margaret's Lee CofE Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Outstanding (July 2024) |  | 0.5 miles |
| Blackheath Prep |  | 3–11 |  | yes | 0.5 miles |
| All Saints' Church of England Primary School Blackheath | Primary | 4–11 | Standards maintained (March 2025) |  | 0.5 miles |
| St Matthew Academy | All-through | 4–16 | Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding (March 2025) |  | 0.6 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [N Family Club Blackheath](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/n-family-club-blackheath-2868862) |  |  | 07:00–19:00 | 0.2 miles |
| [The Conservatoire Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/the-conservatoire-nursery-ey486868) | Outstanding |  | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles |
| [My Childcare and Me](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/my-childcare-and-me-2629656) | Good |  | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles |
| [Blackheath Montessori Centre](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/blackheath-montessori-centre-129010) | Report card Mar 2026 | £110 | 08:00–18:00 | 0.3 miles |
| [Bright Horizons Blackheath Day Nursery and Preschool](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/bright-horizons-blackheath-day-nursery-and-preschool-ey413333) | Good |  | 07:45–18:30 | 0.5 miles |
| [Manor House Day Care (St Margaret's)](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/manor-house-day-care-st-margarets-2667305) | Good |  |  | 0.5 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does First Steps cost?

First Steps publishes these fees: full day £95 for all ages, half day £48 for all ages, half day £65 for all ages, half day £45 for all ages, half day £16.50 for all ages, half day £17.50 for all ages and per hour £10 for all ages (nursery website, November 2026). Funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare can reduce what you pay.

### Does First Steps offer 30 funded hours?

Yes. First Steps offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.

### Does First Steps take funded 2-year-olds?

Yes. First Steps offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.

### What are First Steps's opening hours?

First Steps opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Thu; 08:00–17:30, Fri.

### Is First Steps open all year?

No. First Steps is open term time only.

### What ages does First Steps take?

First Steps takes children aged 9 months to 5 years.

### What is First Steps's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated First Steps Good at its inspection on 28 March 2022, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

### How many children can First Steps take?

First Steps is registered with Ofsted for up to 32 children at any one time.

### Does First Steps accept Tax-Free Childcare?

Yes. First Steps accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.

### Is there a registration fee or deposit at First Steps?

Yes. First Steps lists a registration fee of £30 and a deposit of £50.

### What approach does First Steps follow?

First Steps's website describes its approach as: Early phonics.

### Does First Steps have outdoor space?

First Steps lists: Own garden, Daily outdoor play and All-weather outdoor play.

### Does First Steps support children with SEND?

First Steps lists: Inclusive setting.

### What is the nearest station to First Steps?

Blackheath is the nearest station we know of, 0.2 miles away in a straight line.

### How do I contact First Steps?

You can call 020 8852 1233 and visit www.firststepsgroup.co.uk.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY557077)
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.firststepsgroup.co.uk), as of 11 November 2026 (http://www.firststepsgroup.co.uk/)
- Rating and review themes: Google, as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=First+Steps+Pre-School&query_place_id=ChIJS1ZCSM6p2EcRmW1bszwsmPY)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.