Big Kids Little Kids Nursery and out of School Club
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Darlington for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2022. Open since 2004, with 104 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Darlington
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Darlington from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DL1 1QUWhat 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 January 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 12 January 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children and parents warmly on arrival. This supports children to feel safe and secure. Staff gain information from parents about children's care and learning needs when they start at the setting. This helps staff to develop strong bonds with children, which has a positive impact on children's well-being and emotional development. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are particularly well supported at this setting, and staff have high expectations for all children.
Children behave well and staff teach them the importance of being respectful to others, to share and take their turn. Staff help them to develop the social skills they need to play together. Children receive praise for their efforts and achievements. This develops their self-esteem and motivates them to continue to persevere at their chosen task.
During lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic, staff worked closely with children and parents. They sent regular emails and if parents needed any shopping the provider delivered packs to them. Staff supported parents with any behavioural difficulties that their children displayed and provided resources to help. Ideas for activities were shared on social media and activity packs provided for parents to continue their children's learning at home.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure that equipment used for babies is clean and safe for them, such as dummies when they get dropped on the floor n support staff to develop consistency when modelling language, to help young children to hear and use the correct pronunciation of words.
- 12 January 2022Good
- 29 September 2016Good
- 29 April 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Big Kids Little Kids Nursery and out of School Club
- 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
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.