Castle Kindergarten
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Washington for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 17:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2017, with 53 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 Sunderland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Sunderland 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
NE37 1UAWhat 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, 18 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children develop a genuine love of learning in this highly stimulating nursery. The environment, both indoors and outdoors, is exceptional. It has been created to maximise opportunities for children to become fully engaged in a wealth of rich experiences to stimulate their curiosity and promote their development. Staff set up daily 'invitations to play' in all parts of the nursery. They use carefully selected resources that reflect children's interests and are appropriate to their age and stage of development. In the baby garden, children become engrossed in sensory play as they explore citrus water. They giggle with delight as they are encouraged to scoop and pour the liquid. Babies who are not yet able to stand are supported to access the same experiences from a seated position. In the toddler room, children's learning about the life cycle of a butterfly is reinforced as they use a range of different materials to make collages and paintings. When children choose to move to the play dough station, they continue to talk to each other about eggs and cocoons. Pre-school children are fascinated as staff involve them in the release of the butterflies they have hatched. Inside, they concentrate as they grind herbs they have grown and mix these with powder paint. They skilfully use different utensils to cut fruit and vegetables and are delighted as they work out how to make their own pear juice. Throughout these rich experiences, staff are on hand, when needed, to introduce new vocabulary and to ask questions to support and extend children's learning. As a result, children make excellent progress from their starting points.
Children's behaviour is exemplary. The atmosphere throughout the nursery is calm and purposeful because children are fully absorbed in what they are doing. Children clearly show respect for the environment and learn how to take care of the beautiful resources provided. Staff help children to play alongside each other by modelling how to share and take turns. Children who may struggle to regulate their behaviour receive effective support and appropriate supervision.
- 18 June 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 20 September 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Castle Kindergarten
- 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.