Nurseries and childcare in Darlington
We know of 36 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Darlington. 2 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 2 of 2 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 Darlington
- Borough Road Nursery SchoolGood or better Standards maintained (2025) · phone and directions
- George Dent Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Outstanding (2024) · 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
- Busy Bees Day care preschool 19 Newton Ln, Darlington, DL3 9EX 5 Call
- Danesmoor House Day Nursery Day care preschool 158 Carmel Rd N, Darlington, DL3 8RH 5 Call
- Little Lingfields Ltd Day care preschool Unit 9 Lingfield Point, McMullen Road, Darlington, DL1 1RW 5 Call
- Mowden Pre School Group Preschool Mowden Infant School, Bushel Hill Drive,, Darlington, DL3 5 Call
- Big Kids Little Kids Nursery Day care preschool 172-176 Northgate, Darlington, DL1 1QU Call
- Borough Road Nursery School Preschool Borough Rd, Darlington, DL1 Call
- Darlington Familes Information Service Child care and day care Town Hall, Feethams Room 224, Darlington, DL1 5QT Call
- Darlington Family Hub Day care preschool 2a McNay Street, Darlington, DL36 Call
- Eastbourne Pre-School Preschool Pre School, Bourne Avenue Eastbourne, Darlington, DL1 1LJ Call
- George Dent Nursery School Preschool Elms Rd, Darlington, DL3 Call
- High Grange Day Nursery Day care preschool 57 Alverton Dr, Darlington, DL3 0GA Call
- Kiddies Corner Nursery Day care preschool Cleveland Avenue, Darlington, DL37 Call
- Kids Planet High Bank Day care preschool High Bank Farm Cleasby Lane, Stapleton, DL2 2QE Call
- Lowson Street Pre School Preschool 11 Lowson St, Darlington, DL3 0ET Call
- Pierremont Pre-School Preschool c/o Holy Trinity Youth Centre, Pierremont Road, Darlington, DL3 Call
- Sadberge Pre-School Child care and day care Sadberge Pre School, Sadberge Village Hall, Darlington Rd, Sadberge, DL2 Call
- Sadberge Pre-School Day care preschool Village Hall, Darlington Road, Sadberge, Darlington, DL2 1SW Call
- Serendipity Nursery and Outdoor Learning - Darlington Arena Day care preschool The Northern Echo Arena, Neasham Road, Darlington, DL2 Call
- Serendipity Pre-School Preschool Willow Rd, Darlington, DL3 6PZ Call
- Serendipity Pre-School Day care preschool Heighington Village Hall, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 Call
- St Mark's Preschool Playgroup Preschool St Marks Churh Hall, North Road, Darlington, DL1 3BH Call
- Tiny Turners Nurseries Day care preschool 63a Brinkburn Road, Darlington, DL3 6DX Call
- Upperthorpe Nursery Preschool Woodland Rd, Darlington, DL3 5 Call
- All Saints Blackwell Preschool Preschool Ravensdale Rd, Darlington, DL3 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 Darlington?
We know of 36 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Darlington, including 2 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.