Aycliffe Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Newton Aycliffe for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2012, with 28 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DL5 4QZWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 22 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are keen to enter the nursery and greet their friends and staff. The small staff team provides a warm, welcoming environment. They ensure all children build strong attachments with their key person. Children are very happy and move around the play areas with confidence. They make their own decisions about what toys and resources to use in their play.
Children's behaviour is good. They understand what is expected of them. They learn to share, take turns and to help each other out. Staff use gentle reminders to help children to understand the expected rules and boundaries. This includes the older children, who attend for wraparound care. They are kind and considerate to younger children, and invite them into their games.
Children learn about healthy lifestyles, such as the benefits of a healthy diet and brushing teeth. They learn about germs and possible risks. For example, they know not to use the cutlery that they accidentally drop on the floor, and ask for a clean knife. Children develop good independence skills. For instance, at snacktimes they put spread on their crackers, pour their own milk from jugs, and clear and sort their own waste.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve the good partnership working with parents to ensure they are aware of children's targeted learning plans, and of how these can be promoted at home - continue to strengthen the monitoring of staff's practice to identify and address any minor inconsistencies, to help raise teaching to the highest level.
- 22 November 2022Good
- 26 November 2021Needs improvement
- 6 January 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Aycliffe Day Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
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