5

Stepping Stones Pre-school food hygiene rating

Caring Premises · Buckinghamshire

Stepping Stones 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

The rating dates from 15 January 2020, more than 6 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.

Address: Foxes Piece School, Newfield Road, Marlow, SL7 1JW

How it compares in Buckinghamshire

That puts Stepping Stones Pre-school among the 3,226 places in Buckinghamshire holding top marks, 81% 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.

Every rated food business in Buckinghamshire
5 out of 5 3,226 81% ← Stepping Stones Pre-school
4 out of 5 530 13%
3 out of 5 171 4%
2 out of 5 42 1%
1 out of 5 31 1%
0 out of 5 1 <1%

A further 615 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

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 Stepping Stones 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 Stepping Stones Pre-school, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Foxes Piece School School/college/university at this address 5 - Very good 12 September 2025
Crafty Cooks Other catering premises 162 yards away 5 - Very good 20 April 2016
Bakery 79 And Maple Service Station Retailers - other 362 yards away 5 - Very good 18 February 2026
Glade End Guesthouse Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house 422 yards away 5 - Very good 6 July 2011
Britannia Arms Pub/bar/nightclub 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 21 January 2025
Impact Food Group At Great Marlow School School/college/university 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 19 September 2025
Carvells Newsagents Retailers - other 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 25 July 2016
Bartlett Mitchell At The Cobham Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 29 May 2026

Questions about Stepping Stones Pre-school

What is Stepping Stones Pre-school's food hygiene rating?

Stepping Stones Pre-school has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Buckinghamshire Council on 15 January 2020.

Is Stepping Stones 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 Stepping Stones Pre-school last inspected?

Stepping Stones Pre-school was last inspected on 15 January 2020, more than 6 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Buckinghamshire Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at Stepping Stones 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 "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does Stepping Stones Pre-school compare to other places in Buckinghamshire?

81% of the 4,001 rated food businesses in Buckinghamshire hold the top rating of 5, and Stepping Stones Pre-school is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Buckinghamshire Council inspects Stepping Stones 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 Stepping Stones 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

Stepping Stones Pre-school is one of 132 rated food businesses in Marlow. See every hygiene rating in Marlow

Buckinghamshire inspects and rates 4,616 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Buckinghamshire

The official record is held by the council: http://www.buckinghamshire.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 →