Nurseries and childcare in County Durham
We know of 127 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across County Durham. 10 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 10 of 10 judged good or better. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
State nursery schools across County Durham
- Aclet Close Nursery SchoolGood or better Report card Sept 2026: Strong standard in every area · phone and directions
- Beechdale Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Outstanding (2023) · phone and directions
- Etherley Lane Nursery SchoolGood or better Good (2023) · phone and directions
- Horden Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Outstanding (2024) · phone and directions
- Langley Moor Nursery SchoolGood or better Outstanding (2024) · phone and directions
- Oxhill Nursery SchoolGood or better Good in every area (2025) · phone and directions
- Rosemary Lane Nursery SchoolGood or better Report card Sept 2026: Strong standard in every area · phone and directions
- Seaham Harbour Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Outstanding (2024) · phone and directions
- Tudhoe Moor Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Good (2024) · phone and directions
- Wingate Community Nursery SchoolGood or better Report card Sept 2026: Exceptional in every area · phone and directions
Each name goes to its Ofsted reports. Primary schools, many with a nursery class, are on the schools page.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Big Hands Little Hands Nursery School Home service Prospect Business Park, Consett, DH8 7PW 5 Call
- Bright Star Nursery Preschool Gainford House, Picktree Ln, Chester le Street, DH3 3SR 5 Call
- Castle Kindergarten Preschool Fyndoune Community College, Findon Hill, Durham, DH7 6LU 5 Call
- Coundon and Leeholme Early Years Centre Preschool Victoria Ln, Bishop Auckland, DL14 8NP 5 Call
- Emeralds Little Gems Daycare - Crook Day care preschool 11 North Terrace, Crook, DL15 9AZ 5 Call
- Happy smiles Preschool Werdohl Way, Consett, DH8 5 Call
- Kids Planet Durham Day care preschool Unit 5, City West Business Park, St John's Rd, Durham, DH7 8ER 5 Call
- Kidz Village Preschool 2a Pontop Business Park, Stanley Crook, DH9 8HW 4 Call
- Pixley Dell Private Day Nursery Day care preschool 8 Coulson St, Spennymoor, DL16 7RS 5 Call
- Playology Beach School and Learning Studio Preschool Marina, unit 4 The Waterside, Seaham, SR7 7EE 5 Call
- Seaham Kindergarten Preschool Antrim Gardens, Seaham, SR7 5 Call
- Selby Cottage Childcare Centre Home service The Close East, Chester le Street, DH2 2EY 5 Call
- Tilly-Mints Cherubs Day Nursery Day care preschool 14 Queen's Rd, Consett, DH8 0BH 5 Call
- York House Nursery Preschool 40 N Bondgate, Market Pl, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NX 4 Call
- Aclet Close Nursery School Day care preschool Aclet Close, Bishop Auckland, DL14 Call
- Adventure Valley Day Nursery & Pre-School Preschool Adventure Valley Day Nursery & Pre-School, Durham, DH1 Call
- Beechdale Nursery School Elementary school Beechdale Rd, Consett, DH8 6AY Call
- Betty Kisses Day Care and Training Centre Pet boarding 23-24, Nuns Close, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6XD Call
- Bishop Auckland College Nursery Day care preschool Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, DL14 Call
- Bowes Pre-school Preschool Barnard Castle, DL12 Call
- Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery School Elementary school Broom Rd, Ferryhill, DL17 8AN Call
- Buddies Child care and day care Newton Cap Bank, Bishop Auckland, DL14 5 Call
- Building Blocks Child Care Home service High St, Crook, DL15 Call
- Buttercup Nurseries Child care and day care Station Rd, Seaham, SR7 Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in County Durham?
We know of 127 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across County Durham, including 10 state nursery schools. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.