Stepping Stones Play & Learn Group

Helping children thrive since 1991

Our Play and Learn Nursery Group in Colchester provides a welcoming, inclusive environment where children of all abilities can grow, play, and learn together. Our integrated nursery supports both mainstream children and those with additional needs, fostering development, social skills, and confidence in a safe and nurturing setting.

Imagination & Creativity

We promote imagination and creativity encouraging perseverance and concentration, encouraging the children to play with and alongside their peers. Promoting life skills through all aspects of play.

Working with Professionals

We work closely with other professionals offering a base for multi – agency work to enhance the lives of our children.

Indoor and Outside Play

We provide the opportunity for children to play using both the indoor and outside environment, accessing a range of resources to develop fine and gross motor skills.

Registered Charity - 1206270

We are a registered charity and a non profit making group. We will continue to raise funds which will help provide equipment to enable our children to develop to their full potential.

Statutory & Outside Agencies

We liaise with statutory and outside agencies involved with the child and will assist with form filling.
We also attend meetings with parents.

Latest News

Summer Ball 2025

We have been match funded £458,170 over the next 5 years. These funds will enable us to continue to fund our SEN places and ensure children who learn differently are given the same opportunities as their typically developing peers.

A Big Thank You to the Lottery Community Fund

We have been match funded £458,170 over the next 5 years. These funds will enable us to continue to fund our SEN places and ensure children who learn differently are given the same opportunities as their typically developing peers.

Thanks for continued support from Tesco

We have been supported over many years by Tesco and we have been given £1,000 towards new flooring and a new light column in our sensory room. Thank you Tesco and everyone who popped a token in our space.

 

Funded by Essex Community Foundation

A big shout out to The Saffron Building Society for supporting us with a grant which is managed by The Essex Community Foundation.

We are so thankful to them for supporting our key workers working with children with complex additional needs.

We had a wonderful visit by Lorna from Saffron Building Society who saw first hand the work we do and saw for herself that this funding will really make a difference to the children we work with and the families we support. Thank you so much.

Funding from East of England Co-Op Community Cares Fund

We are excited to announce we have been supported by the East of England Co-op and recevied funding from the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund managed by Essex Community Foundation which will support our key workers working with children with complex additional needs.

We are extremly grateful to them for supporting our charity and can assure them that this funding will really make a difference!

We had a lovely visit by our local store manager Zak who has also nominated us for another award. Thank you Zak and the East of England Community Care Fund you are amazing!

Asda Foundation Grant

Thank you so much to the Asda Foundation for awarding us a wonderful grant of £960 towards nursery shopping which covers offering our children a healthy snack, supporting our topic activities which includes making playdough and gloop etc and towards our general nursery shopping.

Grassroots Award

Thank you so much to the Grassroots Charity for awarding us a grant of £1,000 to update things in our soft play/sensory room, this will mean so much to the children who find this room a safe and fun environment where they can be themselves and express who they are.

Being able to update and improve things in the room is vital to how we support our amazing children and familes so thank you so much for your support.

Swing Band Concert 2025

Join us on Friday 21st March, from 7.30pm til late for a wonderful evening of Swing Music performed by The Academy of Swing, in aid of the nursery.

Adult tickets are £8, Children can come for FREE.

You are welcome to bring your own drink and nibbles as the cafe will not be open. There will also be a raffle on the night with great prizes to be one.

Tickets can be purchased via email to info@steppingstonesplayandlearn.org – please request bank details when emailing in.

What Our Parents Say

“The staff at Stepping Stones go above and beyond for the children in their care. I feel comfortable dropping my child off knowing he will be cared for to a high standard and have an enriching experience every session, always making sure his needs are taken into account.”

Jade, Mum

“Stepping Stones has provided both of my children with an enriching experience, fostering their development and creating cherished memories along the way.”

Angel, Mum

“I have had two children come to Stepping Stones both with SEN needs, their help and support has been incredible and I wouldn’t dream of sending them anywhere else.”

Chelsey, Mum

34 Years of Combined Experience specialising in…

  • Communication skills, working alongside fully qualified speech therapist.
  • Staff have access to specialist training in a variety of health needs and specialist equipment.
  • Sensory needs with our very own sensory room and sensory circuit.
  • Behaviour management strategies.
  • Makaton & PECS training.

 

What our Annual Satisfaction Survey says about us

Each year we ask our parents to complete our annual satisfaction survey and to provide feedback about how we are doing at Stepping Stones.

This is some of the feedback from the latest survey.

Highly Recommended

100% of our current parents who answered our Annual Satisfaction Survey would recommend Stepping Stones to a colleague.

Very High Quality Care

90% of our current parents who answered our Annual Satisfaction survey rated the care and support their child receives at nursery as very high quality.

Range of Learning Experiences

100% of our current parents who answered our Annual Satisfaction survey strongly agree that our outdoor environment provides a range of learning experiences.

Very Positive Settling-In Period

80% of our current parents who answered our Annual Satisfaction survey felt their Childs settling in period was very positive.