Small Steps Pre-School food hygiene rating
Caring Premises · Cherwell
Small Steps Pre-School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the care premises met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
This is a fresh result: Small Steps Pre-School was inspected on 19 May 2026, so the rating reflects what the inspector found very recently.
Address: The Childrens House Nursery Parkhill Recreation Ground Benmead Road, Kidlington, OX5 2DA
How it compares in Cherwell
That puts Small Steps Pre-School among the 977 places in Cherwell holding top marks, 80% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 977 | 80% | ← Small Steps Pre-School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 157 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 65 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 14 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 103 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Small Steps Pre-School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Small Steps Pre-School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Start Catering @ North Kidlington Primary School School/college/university | 163 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 October 2025 |
| The Burrow Other catering premises | 163 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 February 2026 |
| The Black Horse Other catering premises | 239 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 November 2024 |
| Iceland Frozen Foods Plc Retailers - other | 270 yards away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2015 |
| Stanley's Sweets and Treats Retailers - other | 278 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 June 2023 |
| Koopa Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 281 yards away | 5 - Very good | 19 March 2025 |
| The Black Bull Other catering premises | 286 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 March 2026 |
| Residential Children's home Caring Premises | 292 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 January 2026 |
Questions about Small Steps Pre-School
What is Small Steps Pre-School's food hygiene rating?
Small Steps Pre-School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Cherwell Council on 19 May 2026.
Is Small Steps Pre-School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this care premises to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Small Steps Pre-School last inspected?
Small Steps Pre-School was last inspected on 19 May 2026, a month ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cherwell Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Small Steps Pre-School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Small Steps Pre-School compare to other places in Cherwell?
80% of the 1,221 rated food businesses in Cherwell hold the top rating of 5, and Small Steps Pre-School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Cherwell Council inspects Small Steps Pre-School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Small Steps Pre-School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Small Steps Pre-School is one of 87 rated food businesses in Kidlington. See every hygiene rating in Kidlington →
Cherwell inspects and rates 1,324 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cherwell →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.cherwell.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →