Little Steps is a private childcare setting, located in the heart of Pontardawe. The setting was established in 2006 to bring a quality care provision to our village and surrounding area. Our ethos has been embedded over the last sixteen years by providing fully trained, forward thinking and consistent practitioners to care for and educate the children placed with us by discerning families looking for the best. Hundreds of children have been given a Little Steps start and we are now enjoying the second generation of families. We pride ourselves on offering an extensive range of childcare services for children between the ages of 0 and 12 years.
Our Vision
‘To provide rich and enabling environments so that children are empowered from an early age to set their own agenda, to become whoever and whatever they want to be.’
Pontardawe Nursery: 01792 869494
[email protected]
Find us on facebook
(We have a ‘Public page’ for Little Steps Childcare Centre Ltd, Pontardawe & Ystradgynlais and we also have a ‘Private’ page which is for registered families only)
The Children’s Setting
The Pontardawe Nursery is registered with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) to provide care for children from 0 months to 12 years of age and is able to provide 46 childcare places:
Age 0 – 2 years – 12 places
Age 2 – 3 years – 12 places
Age 3 – 12 years – 22 places
At the age of 3 your child may be offered a part-time place at school. In this instance the nursery offers a Wraparound Service. This means that you can drop-off your child at Little Steps from 7.15 a.m. each morning. We transport the children to and from whichever school they attend and at whichever part-time slot they have been allocated and at the end of the school session they return to Little Steps for the rest of the day. All meals are provided. Please enquire prior to booking which schools are currently on the school run list.
As an alternative to starting part-time school we have the qualifications and team to deliver education to your child until they start mandatory school full-time at age 5. In 2021 Little Steps was selected to particpate in the pilot for the new Curriculum in Wales for non maintained nursery settings. The new curriculum is organic, inspirational and child-led and well underway now. We have a wonderful private, garden space within the grounds of the setting with the sounds of the trees blowing in the wind, the gushing of the River Tawe and the plentiful wildlife against the backdrop of the bustling village of Pontardawe.
Little Steps is also fully engaged with the new Additonal Learning Needs Framework in Wales (2021) ensuring that, along with health visitors, early ears screening is in place and develpmental support is put in place without delay, if needed.
When your child does enter full-time education, Little Steps continues to support you via the provision of the following services.
Breakfast Club – from 7.15 a.m. each day
School Runs – throughout the day
After School Club at Little Steps – 3.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Clwb Joio! – for Holidays and Inset Days
All enquiries and bookings are taken by email or for last minute bookings, the following number 01792 869494 (Main Nursery). Please note that phone call bookings do require an email confirmation.
Opening Hours: 7.15 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing day, New Year’s Day.
The Setting management Structure
Responsible Individual: Mrs. Karen Jones
The day-to-day management of the nursery is given to the Nursery Manager. The Manager is responsible for ensuring that each day runs smoothly according to the Statement of Purpose and the daily Operational Plan.
Each nursery setting has a named Deputy Manager. The Deputy supports the manager whilst in ratio with the children, and steps up in the event of the Manager being away from setting.
Each Room has a Room Leader and the Room Leader has a team of Practitioners who are selected on the basis on experience and qualifications. These practitioners are called Key Workers. Each familiy is allocated a Key worker when they join Little Steps.
In addition the nursery operates with at least one and often two members of staff who are supernumerary to child:adult ratios.
As a company we welcome volunteers and we do offer apprenticeship programmes.
Staff qualifications in Safeguarding and First Aid are mandatory.
All staff are DBS screened.
Learning Environments
The nursery is organised into separate units according to the ages of the children, offering environments in which to learn and play.
Little Explorers
The baby area has a ratio of one adult per three babies. There is a sleeping room within the baby area as well as a changing room and sensory area.
Ages 0-24 Months
Little Discoverers
The 2-3’s are based upstairs and cane sometimes move into the Foundation Phase room and share this room with the Inventors in preparation for school.
Ages 24-36 months
Little Inventors
The downstairs area is a base for the school age children to come back to, where they can relax, enjoy, complete their homework with supervision or just play.
Ages 3+
Pontardawe Staff
The nursery is staffed by qualified early-years practitioners. Our ratios are within those required by the CIW (Care Inspectorate Wales). These are:
Children under the age of 2 – 1 adult: 3 children
Children aged 2-3 years – 1 adult: 4 children
Children Age 3+ – 1 adult: 8 children
Children Age 8 + – 1 adult: 10 children
What Parents Say
‘All staff members are truly amazing, kind, considerate and very caring. A big thank you to all the team from us as a family.’ From Pontardawe Quality Assurance Report 2025
Our Location
Our Pontardawe Nursery is located off Herbert Street in the heart of Pontardawe, Swansea.
Address: Little Steps Childcare Centre Ltd,
1A Herbert Street,
Pontardawe,
Swansea, SA8 4EB.
Call: 01792 869494
Email: [email protected]
