Footsteps Nursery Group

Footsteps joined the Family First family in January 2022, bringing with it a well-established reputation for outstanding childcare across the Midlands. The brand continues to grow, welcoming new nurseries that share its values and approach.

At the heart of Footsteps is a simple philosophy: helping every child become "One Step Ahead". Children are supported to grow into Confident Communicators, Independent Investigators and Resilient Resolvers through a curriculum that encourages curiosity, free thinking and emotional resilience. Practitioners see themselves as an extension of each family, building close partnerships so parents feel confident their child is getting the best possible start in life.

Outdoor learning is central to the Footsteps approach. Every nursery has a thoughtfully designed outside space where children can wander, climb, splash and explore in all weathers. The belief is clear: what can be taught inside can be achieved outside too. Consistent, high-quality care is delivered across all settings, with safeguarding always a priority. Every Footsteps nursery upholds our Family First commitments.

Footsteps nurseries are located across Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the Birmingham area, serving communities including Lichfield, Stafford, Tamworth, Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry.

Explore the nurseries below to find out more, and book a tour when you're ready.

Family First Nurseries

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Our curriculums are built around five core commitments

Critical and creative thinkers

Nurturing curiosity and confidence to imagine, test ideas, and solve problems through exploration.

Sense of belonging

Building secure, trusting relationships so every child feels safe, valued, and confident.

Explorers of our world

Connecting children to nature through outdoor experiences that build resilience and independence.

Confident communicators

Supporting every child to express themselves in ways that are meaningful to them.

Happy and healthy

Encouraging physical activity, healthy eating, and joyful experiences that support lifelong wellbeing.

What to expect on your nursery tour

Curious as to what to expect from one of our open house tours, then read on below…

Meet our team

Learn about our curriculum

Explore funding options

Explore our spaces

Book A Tour

Your guide to enrolment

A snapshot of everything you need to know about enrolling your child, from initial enquiry and nursery visit through to securing your place!

Book online through our super simple “book a tour” feature or call 0330 333 1080 to speak to our friendly Customer Experience Team.

Book A Tour

Your tour is tailored to you and your child. You will explore our indoor and outdoor spaces, meet the team, learn about our curriculum and nutrition, and more, and have all your questions answered.

Our Customer Experience Team will be in touch to answer any questions and talk through next steps when you are ready.

When you are ready, we will send your enrolment form and payment links and guide you through this process. Once completed, your child's place is confirmed.

A few weeks before your child is due to start we will be back in touch with you to book your child's settling in sessions.

Our promises kept through parents words

8.1

Review Score for

21 reviews

December 15, 2025

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

Great preschool with fantastic teachers. My son thrives here and will be more than ready to go to school next year. He loves going and learns so much and always comes out smiling. The activities they do are really fun and rewarding

Ellen H

May 13, 2025

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

The staff are all lovely and the setting is wonderful, my son loves attending and playing with all the variety of toys. He also loves the different set ups and tray activities they do. The garden is a good size and they regularly go out when the weather is right.

Megan S

February 6, 2024

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

Amazing, friendly and educational. Our daughter is having the best time, learning and developing all the while. After some feedback recently regarding communication this was listened to by the nursery manager, and this has now improved immensely. It’s a pleasure to send my daughter here. The staff are always so friendly and approachable, and they should all be proud of the operation they run. Advice is always offered and accepted. The activities are fantastic and engaging. The nursery loves to have the parents involved, and we are more than happy to support them in any way we can. We are about to have our second daughter and have already secured her place. We just want to say a big thank you to the staff and all the hard work and commitment they put in. Wouldn’t hesitate for one minute to recommend this nursery, and I do to all I can.

Sam B

April 13, 2023

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

My son has settled very well into nursery and has a great bond with his key worker. He is always happy to be in nursery. The app is great for daily log but could do with a section to reflect on what activities the child has enjoyed during the day. Since being taken over, the nursery now has a more corporate business feel with lots of negative policy charges including extortionate fee increases and is less attentive to individual needs and requirements.

N M

March 31, 2023

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

There is a very nurturing environment at the nursery, the staff have genuine connections with the kids and I feel that my child is well supported, has lots of exciting activities to get involved in and that learning is made fun! At pick-up, we get updates as to how he's eaten and what he's been up to, he often joins in, excitedly adding details which is lovely and gives us lots to talk about on the way home. I love the regular photos and updates we get on the app and the number of different activities that are put on (which gives me ideas too). The staff are friendly and approachable and are always willing to go the extra mile. I am really glad that we chose this nursery for our son.

S M

March 30, 2023

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

Since the nursery has been taken over by the new company there are a few things that I am not happy about but have no say as a client, not having packed lunch options and being forced to pay for food that the children won't eat is the main issue I have but also the extortion of the fees and paying for days the nursery is closed are also concerns. I would not recommend the nursery due to these two issues. The staff, on the other hand, are fantastic and could not be happier with them and it is a credit to them as to why we are still here.

V S

March 27, 2023

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

My son loves coming to nursery. He enjoys all activities the preschool room plans for him. He has two hot meals a day and is always talking about the new foods he tries with his friends. We like all the outdoor spaces he has to explore, which are free flow from his room. Our son loves the extracurricular activities each day and is always learning new skills. We would recommend Ashleigh to all. Thank you.

H J

March 20, 2023

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

Atherstone Nursery has been amazing for my little boy since he first started in September. His development has come on so much since he started, and he absolutely loves going as well. I can’t fault any of the staff, they all do an amazing job, and my son is happy to go to all of them. I would definitely recommend Atherstone Nursery to any parent looking for a place for their little ones. Thank you for all you do.

F E

September 8, 2022

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

The staff in the Adventurers room have been amazing settling my little girl in especially 2 members of staff in particular. She absolutely loves it and looks forward to going in so thank you for being so amazing with her.

B M

September 28, 2016

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

A fantastic caring child care setting, which has provided a great environment for both my children to learn and grow. My son is definitely "school-ready" thanks to Ashleigh. I would definitely recommend.

Becky E

September 28, 2016

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

Ashleigh Nursery school is amazing! My daughter started quite late into the year and didn't know anyone there. All the staff made her feel welcome, special and went the extra mile to make her feel part of the team. I felt comfortable and confident that my daughter was being well looked after but also having fun. But the time it was time for my daughter to leave and go to school, she had made some lovely friendships and had grown massively in confidence!

Leanne E

September 28, 2016

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

My little boy attended Ashleigh from 4 months to 4 years old. The staff are very professional, yet caring and loving towards the children. You feel that your child is well cared for - good food and lots of activities. My little boy has now left for school but he misses his friends and staff at Ashleigh.

Emma M

September 27, 2016

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

I have found Ashleigh to be warm, caring and professional nursery with exceptional staff. Over the past 5 years my two boys have spent 4 days a week at Ashleigh, and I would have no hesitation to recommend the nursery as such a lovely place for them to learn and play during their early years. The staff have always been exceptionally caring and put the children first. They have also been exceptionally flexible to me as working mum which has allowed me to carry on with my career safe in the knowledge that my boys are safe and happy. Many of the staff that looked after my eldest have also cared for my second little boy, always a good sign and so nice to build up a connection to the wonderful team who are Ashleigh. We will miss them but are so grateful that they have set our boys off on the right path as they move on.

Sarah B

September 15, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

Ashleigh Nursery is a lovely nursery school. My daughter started there when she was just over 3 years old and, thank to all the caring teachers, she adapted very well and rapidly. My son is 1.5 years old and joined Ashleigh when he was 6 months old. He also loves going to school every day.

Yanina S

September 15, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

My daughter has attended this nursery for over 2 years now. All the staff make an effort to make the child and parents feel welcome to the nursery. The use of there tapestry system is amazing, makes me feel more involved in my daughters progress at nursery. Receiving a daily sheet at the end of each session to know what has happened in the day is really helpful. It's amazing to know all of the people at the nursery have helped my daughter become who she is now.

Natalie S

September 14, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

My son has been at Ashleigh for 3 years & I honestly can say it's an amazing place. The staff are wonderful & truly want your child to thrive and develop and they focus on doing what they can to help them achieve that. The feedback to parents also is outstanding not only verbally and through daily sheets of what your child has done & eaten etc but by the interactive tapestry - you get to see pictures & write ups of what they've been doing in the day. We love adding our own things from home too. The various rooms and outdoor areas are filled with exciting things to really encourage your little ones imagination. My son has just started school and I had no worries at all about whether he's ready or not as everyone at Ashleigh have helped him become the confident, friendly, polite little boy he is and prepare him for his next big adventure.

Louise W

September 2, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

This nursery is fantastic! My 2 daughters attend and they have improved massively. Nothing is ever too much for the staff here. My girls love it here and get very excited! Excellent facilities and staff!! So happy my girls get to attend here!

Chloe G

September 1, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

This nursery is outstanding. All 3 of my children have attended over the past 9 years. The owners are really lovely people who genuinely care about the progress and well being of your child. The staff are excellent - many are long serving (which I think is unusual in this industry) and all are pleasant, professional and well trained. I have recommended this nursery to many work colleagues and wouldn't hesitate in recommending again.

Julie A

September 1, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

Consistently good communication between the nursery staff and home, offered verbally, also via a daily sheet and best of all, the tapestry. Our granddaughter has really enjoyed the activities, which despite the length of time she has attended, do not seem to have been repeated. We loved the idea of celebrating Notting Hill Carnival at nursery, along with the new garden and play equipment, which the rainy weather still didn't spoil. The interaction via the tapestry, with staff commenting on comments and activities of what we have done at home is excellent. They have even followed up with questions for her at nursery to embed the learning at home. Well done to all staff, we shall be sorry that she will be moving up to school soon, but feel sure that she has been well prepared, socially and emotionally for transition.

Susan T

August 24, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

My daughter has been at Ashleigh since 18months old and is extremely happy there. When she started she was quiet, especially in large groups and with the help of the staff she is now very confident. The facility is superb especially the new inventors room and provides lots of activities for the children. Knowing your child is happy and settled at nursery makes all the difference to me as a parent. The online tapestry tool is excellent and the staff give regular feedback and share what the children have been doing. This is a brilliant way for me to know what activities my daughter has been doing and I can add comments from home too. I feel Ashleigh Nursery has fully prepared my daughter for school and I would not hesitate to recommend to any other parent.

Dawn M

July 27, 2015

Review of Footsteps Atherstone Nursery & Pre-School

My little boy attends 2 full days per week, he is currently in the Explorers room (babies). The staff are fabulous, with over 20 years combined service at the nursery I was extremely confident that he was in good hands. They are very attentive to all of his care needs and to mine as a parent also. As an early years teacher I am really impressed with the educational experiences he is exposed to, his electronic learning journal allows me access to his nursery day from my iphone and I can keep in regular touch with his key person about any new learning moments! We shared his first steps together and they supported him in gaining his confidence! Now there's no stopping him! The room is set out lovely with beautiful wooden furniture. It is clean and safe. They have a wonderful covered outdoor area which is a little decked area and then a grassed area with toys and equipment for physical development. There's also a sleep room and he loves falling asleep to the classical music we play at home! I couldn't ask for any better and soon he's moving to the next room...I can't wait!

Melissa P

Footsteps Nursery Group