History Of Steps

Steps was started in 1994 by four families who recognised the benefits gained by their children from conductive education. The families wanted to make the benefits available to other families locally and set up the Steps Centre for Conductive Education in Lecicestershire. Since then, families living in the region no longer have the expense and disruption of travelling long distances to other centres or the huge cost of going to Hungary to get help for their children.

Since 1994, the achievements of Steps have been impressive. From a tiny group renting a single nursery room in Ashmount Special School and working with five local families, Steps, with its team of staff and volunteers, now provides an array of professional services to more than 50 families. Their feedback testifies to the difference which Steps has made to their children’s lives and to the well being and happiness of the whole family.

Achievements to date have been made possible by almost entirely voluntary fundraising activities by founder President, Dr Heather Crate, Steps Patron and Trustee, Rosemary Conley CBE DL, and the efforts of other Trustees and a large and growing number of Steps supporters, including staff, volunteers and local families. This activity has also engaged the support of major donors such as UPS, Caterpillar, Primary Care Trusts and charitable trusts such as Henry Smith’s charity, The National Lottery and BBC Children in Need.

Following the raising of over £250,000 in 2006 for the purchase of premises in Shepshed, Leicestershire, a major programme of refurbishment in 2007, supported by ITV Central News, attracted 130 local companies to supply £550,000 worth of goods and services free of charge.

Testimonials

Children coming from Steps show very high levels of concentration and motivation.

Local teacher in a mainstream school

Using the principles of conductive education has a marked impact on the development of individual children.

Local teacher

There is an emphasis on ensuring each child becomes as independent as possible and resulting overall progress has been a joy for me and my husband to see over the last year.

Parent

My daughter's quality of life has improved beyond belief since she stared attending the nursery. In September she will start mainstream school. She is now a happy, confident and intelligent little girl, who understands that she finds some things more difficult than other children.

Parent

Steps provides me with inspiration and courage...it means hope for the future.

Parent

This nursery has been a lifeline for me.

Parent

Poppy's development in terms of her problem solving and her knowledge/understanding of the world are a relative strength. The excellent quality of interaction offered by parents, conductive education and the support offered by the preschool service is obviously benefitting Poppy.

Educational Psychologist

I wouldn't miss Steps for anything. It's my favourite time of the week.

Steps young person who now attends secondary school

This is the first time I have been somewhere where the staff and other parents actually know what I'm going through.

Parent attending Steps for the first time with daugther aged 2