Nurseries and childcare in Sunderland
We know of 39 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Sunderland. 7 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 7 of 7 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 Sunderland
- Hetton Lyons Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Good (2023) · phone and directions
- Houghton Le Spring Nursery SchoolGood or better Standards maintained (2025)
- Hylton Red House Nursery SchoolGood or better Report card Sept 2026: Expected standard in every area · phone and directions
- Mill Hill Nursery SchoolGood or better Outstanding (2024) · phone and directions
- Oxclose Nursery SchoolGood or better Report card Jul 2026: Expected standard in every area · phone and directions
- Pennywell Early Years CentreGood or better Outstanding in every area (2025) · phone and directions
- Usworth Colliery Nursery SchoolGood or better Good (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
- Hylton Red House Nursery School Preschool Rotherham Rd, Sunderland, SR5 5QL 5 Call
- Little Angels Nursery Day care preschool Grindon Ln, Sunderland, SR3 5 Call
- Little Treasures Nursery Day care preschool Blue House Lane, Concord, Washington, NE37 2TE 3 Call
- Mill Hill Nursery School Preschool Torphin Hill Dr, Sunderland, SR3 5 Call
- Pennywell Early Years Centre Preschool Sunderland, SR4 5 Call
- Siblings Nursery Preschool Sunderland, SR4 6TQ 5 Call
- Apple Blossom Day Nursery Preschool St Lukes Church, Merle Terrace, Sunderland, SR4 6SD 5 Call
- Banana moon Day Nursery Day care preschool 1-2 Rowlandson Terrace, Sunderland, SR2 7SU Call
- Bright Stars Nursery Day care preschool Bright Stars Nursery, Hudson Road Primary School, Villiers Street South, Sunderland, SR1 2AH Call
- Castle Kindergarten Preschool Albany Village Primary School, Washington, NE37 1UA Call
- Hetton House Day Nursery Preschool Houghton Rd, Hetton-le-Hole, DH5 9PG Call
- Hetton Lyons Nursery School Day care preschool Hetton le Hole, 5 Station Road, Houghton le Spring, DH5 0AX Call
- LEAPS Nursery Preschool Hatchlands Road, Redhill , Sunderland, RH1 Call
- Little JEMS Hetton Day care preschool Victoria Street, Houghton le Spring, DH5 9DG Call
- Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-school Preschool Hetton House, Day Nursery, Houghton Rd, Houghton le Spring, DH5 9PG Call
- Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-school Day care preschool Tavistock Pl, Sunderland, SR1 1PG Call
- Oxclose Community Nursery School Preschool Brancepeth Rd, Washington, NE38 Call
- Springboard Nursery Preschool 47-67 St Luke's Rd, Sunderland, SR4 6SF Call
- St Marys Childcare Home service St Mary's Nursery, Chester Rd, Sunderland, SR1 Call
- Stepping Stones Child Care Child care and day care Ormonde Street, Sunderland, SR4 Call
- Tavistock House Day Nursery Child care and day care Borough Rd, Sunderland, SR1 1PG Call
- Thorney Close Early Education Centre Day care preschool Thorndale Rd, Sunderland, SR3 Call
- Usworth Colliery Nursery School Preschool Manor Rd, Washington, NE37 3BL Call
- Baby Sensory Sunderland Preschool Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis & Wellness Centre, Silkworth Lane, Sunderland, SR3 1PD 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 Sunderland?
We know of 39 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Sunderland, including 7 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.