Welcome to Footprints Netherton Nursery

Our Ofsted-registered nursery based in the heart of the Netherton community.

Footprints Netherton Nursery

Children and families are at the heart of all we do.

footprints@ netherton nursery – latest Ofsted report (February 2020)  is very positive about the nursery.

It states that ‘Leaders and the manager are passionate about enriching the experiences of young children and their families. Together, with the help of staff and parents, they evaluate the quality of the setting and the plans for future changes. Staff put children at the heart of the setting’

For children’s First Steps in life away from home we are passionate about offering a homely, secure and nurturing environment with care and support from experienced practitioners who share our values and beliefs of improving children’s life chances by providing them with rich experiences and opportunities to play, laugh and learn and to make valuable, often lifelong friendships.

First Steps recognise that only when children feel physically and emotionally happy and secure, can they be ready to explore and learn about the big world around them.

In our Footprints childcare settings, First Steps encourages children to explore, be inquisitive, to learn and have fun. We delight in children’s achievements, no matter how small a step.

We empower children to give it a go, to keep on trying, to believe in themselves.

Our nursery recognises the strong sense of community that our families feel, and we value our relationships with parents.

First Steps Enterprise Limited is committed to creating a diverse environment in its footprints@ settings and is proud to be an equal opportunity organisation.

We welcome and encourage children and families from all backgrounds.

All places in Footprints settings are offered without regards to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.

Nursery Rooms

Rainforest 1 – Pre-school Room

We offer a dedicated pre-school room for our older preschoolers. Children will develop in their next steps of learning where school readiness is paramount.

Children are encouraged to be involved in activities such as pencil control, letter and number recognition and formation, sequencing and conceptual skills as well as developing their listening and attention skills and small group phonics work.

We also recognise the importance of children’s independence by encouraging them to choose their own activities, tidy up equipment, wash their hand and dress themselves during play.

Their efforts are valued and praised.

Rainforest 2 – Toddler Room

Our homely toddler room offers a safe environment where children can interact with others and build positive relationships.

Children will have the opportunity to learn through play, at their own pace.

The home corner and creative areas provide a good basis to practice language and communication skills and provide plenty of opportunities for learning social skills through interactive play.

Children are involved in daily messy play activities, which is vital for developing the skills needed for writing.

Meet the Team

Our Netherton Nursery Team

Jackie Murray
Nursery Leader

Lyndsey Gibson
Nursery Deputy Leader

Shelley Boswell – Level 3 Practitioner

Shelley Boswell
Level 3 Practitioner

Michelle Billows
Level 3 Practitioner

Karen Dowling
Level 3 Practitioner

Phil Hall
Welfare Assistant

First Steps Enterprise Limited - Team Photo

Management Team

The First Steps Management Team from left to right: Sarah Mercer is the Company’s Deputy Manager, and oversees the setting in Netherton, ensuring quality standards are adhered to. Ann Howarth is our Administrator.  Ian Merrison is Managing Director of the company and is the nominated person for the company with Ofsted.  Jennifer Merrison is a Company Director.  More details about them can be read here.

Opening Times and Location

Footprints@ Netherton delivers free Ofsted-registered childcare for two-to-four year olds that meet the eligibility criteria (see Admissions below) or who are purchasing a place. The nursery is located within Netherton Family Well Being Centre, Magdalen Square, Netherton, Bootle, L30 5QH

The pre-school has offers places for two-to-four year olds and operates Monday to Friday during term time.

Sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm for half days. A full day is 8.45am to 2.45pm. You can choose 5 mornings, 5 afternoons or 2.5 days.

Admissions Policy for Funded Places

To book a funded place with the nursery, you need to be eligible to receive the two-year funding allocation as follows:

Access to the free offer of 15 hours two-year funding

Your 2-year-old can receive free early education and childcare if you live in England and get one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Guaranteed element of State Pension Credits
  • Child / Working Tax Credits and annual gross earnings of less than £16,190
  • Working Tax Credit 4 week run on (the payment you receive when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
  • Universal Credit Eligibility Criteria will be confirmed at a later date.

Children are also eligible if they:

  • Are a Local Authority looked after child
  • Are a child of a care leaver (Under the age of 25 years)
  • Have a current statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an education, health and care plan
  • Access a Disability Living Allowance
  • They have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

To ensure that you and your child get the best from the pre-school Education we provide:

  • All children will access a transition programme to support children’s entry to the pre-school.
  • Irregular attendance without sufficient explanation may, at the discretion of the pre-school’s management, be construed as grounds for a child’s withdrawal from the pre-school, although this is something we would work with you to avoid.
  • Appropriate medical and personal information about children admitted must be made available to the pre-school’s management and all staff at nursery will be treated as confidential.

Prioritisation of places

If demand for places exceeds supply, First Steps will admit by use of the following criteria which are listed in priority order:

  1. Children who are in care of the local authority.
  2. Children with siblings attending the pre-school/linked school at time of admission.
  3. Children with additional needs.
  4. Children who live closest to the pre-school, based on the proximity of their home address to the pre-school. Distance will be measured on an ordinance survey map as a straight line.

To apply and book a place

Applications for funding can be made on Sefton Council’s website here or ring the School Readiness Service on 0151 933 6021.

When you receive your funding place confirmation, please contact us on 07852 647962 to book your place.  If oversubscribed, the prioritisation of places policy above will apply.

Welcome Pack and Policies

Our Welcome Pack is here.  It contains useful information about the nursery and what we offer.

Please contact us for full policies and procedures.

Contact Details

Footprints@ Netherton Nursery is based within:

Netherton Family Well Being Centre,
Magdalen Square,
Netherton,
Bootle,
L30 5QH

Telephone: 07852 647962

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