Thank you so much for all you have done for C, we have seen huge progress and feel very privileged to be able to access such a wonderful service.
Who we are
Our story
A Vision for Change
In the early 1990s local families working with local health visitors and teachers recognised the need for high quality, flexible and affordable childcare to address barriers to employment and ensure that children had the very best start; to learn and develop. They set up First Steps, a grass roots charity deeply embedded within the community, they recruited, employed and trained local people, offering good terms and conditions of employment and fair pay demonstrating that families are able to be better off in work.
Today Twerton and Whiteway, areas in Bath, face significant levels of deprivation, particularly affecting children under five. In Twerton, 33% of children live in poverty, while in Whiteway, the figure stands at 23%. These high levels of deprivation have far-reaching implications on the health and wellbeing of young children, impacting their access to essential services and opportunities for development. Addressing these challenges is crucial to improving the lives of children in these communities.
A Way Out: First Steps in Overcoming Deprivation.
In the face of significant deprivation in Twerton and Whiteway, there is hope. First Steps is ideally positioned and geared to counter the effects of deprivation. We offer quality childcare and support for families, ensuring that children make progress and are ready for school. Our services also enable parents to engage in training, education, and employment, creating a brighter future for the entire community.
Facilities and Activities at First Steps
First Steps offers a wide range of facilities and activities in addition to our community nurseries and early years specialist services. Our Woodhouse Road head office features offices, a large meeting room, and a family room with an adjacent kitchen. Health visitors are co-located and deliver a comprehensive programme of support under the Healthy Child Programme. We run family support parenting groups and healthy eating groups from our centre. Additionally, we provide a stay and play for families whose children have special educational needs, operating during term time. We fundraise to ensure that every child can access hot, nutritionally balanced meals through our free meals programme and to ensure that all children can engage in trips and activities. Our goal is to ensure that every child and family receives the support they need to thrive.
Baby Explorer
Growing the Vision
First Steps evolved from a community nursery to an Early Excellence Centre in 2001, followed by achieving Neighbourhood Nursery status in 2002. In 2003 the nursery centre was designated as Bath and North East Somerset’s first Sure Start Children’s Centre.
In 2004 First Steps moved into a new purpose built Centre in Woodhouse Road, Twerton, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Nicholson (a local businessman) and Pine Tree Trust, the Diocesan Board of Education, and to two capital grants from the Early Excellence programme and the National Lottery. This became our ‘headquarters’ and registered office, as well as housing expanded nursery provision and family support services.
Also in 2004 First Steps took over (at B&NES request) a private nursery next door to Moorlands Infant School in Oldfield Park. After development work, First Steps Moorlands Children’s Centre achieved its designation as our second Sure Start Children’s Centre in August 2006. Our Company name was changed in early 2007 to become ‘First Steps (Bath), with the service delivered from Woodhouse Road becoming ‘First Steps Twerton Children’s Centre’
Securing the Future
In 2018 First Steps took on the contract for the Early Years Specialist service, Bath Opportunity Preschool, based at Three Ways School and a rebuild of the Community Children's Centre at Moorlands.
First Steps continues to work in close partnership with parents, professionals and the local community delivering services that enable families to develop positive, loving relationships with their children and support their continuing development.