Big Hands Little Hands Nursery School
GoodBirth to 8+Open a few years
A day nursery in Consett for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. £30.00 a day. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2021, with 88 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
| Age | Full day | Session | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | £30.00Holiday Club Day or Holiday club | £12.00After School Club or ASC |
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £4.00 a session Breakfast Clubincludes breakfast of cereals, fruit, yoghurts, toast
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DH8 7PWWhat 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.
- 2 April 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 25 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children demonstrate that they are happy and settled during their time at this friendly and welcoming nursery. The nurturing staff team treats children with a great deal of respect. Children are listened to, and their views are valued. Staff have recently reviewed their arrangements for circle time. This has resulted in the size of their groups being reduced to ensure that less confident children have more opportunity to contribute. Children behave extremely well. They are praised for using good manners and for being helpful. This promotes children's self-esteem.
The nursery environment is highly stimulating, both indoors and outside. Children can choose from a wide range of interesting activities. They regularly become absorbed in their play. The youngest children giggle with delight as they hunt for sea creatures in the water tray. They concentrate as they practise scooping flour into a bowl. Two-year-olds persevere as they learn how to use scissors. Older children invite the inspector to visit their ice cream parlour. Here, they use markmaking skills to show when it is open and to take orders. They confidently explain the menu and ask for payment. Stories and rhymes are used effectively throughout the day. As a result of the opportunities available, children are becoming confident, independent learners.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider how to support children's learning even more in the baby room when children are playing independently n support staff to adopt a more consistent approach to the use of dummies, to further promote children's communication and language.
- 25 July 2023Good
- 1 August 2022Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Big Hands Little Hands Nursery School
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £30.00 a day still the rate? 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
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.