Castle Kindergarten
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Durham for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 October 2022. Open since 2017, with 48 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DH7 6LUWhat 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, 3 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children receive a warm, nurturing and friendly welcome when they arrive. They respond well to staff and learn in a fun and safe place. Children have a positive attitude to learning and are eager to join in the activities planned for them. Babies develop their movement skills. For example, they shuffle on their bottoms and reach for resources, such as books to look at. Two-year-olds enjoy making large marks using paint on paper. This is an early start to writing. Pre-school children explore resources linked to autumn. For example, they feel the skin on pumpkins and see how many smalls ones will fit into a measuring jug.
The leadership team and staff are committed to working with the families and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The special educational needs coordinator observes the children and guides staff on how they can work effectively to meet the needs of the children.
Overall, children behave well. Staff give them lots of reminders to use kind hands and to walk in the rooms. However, there are times in pre-school, such as tidy up time, where children can be disruptive.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider ways to fully involve pre-school children in routines, such as tidy up time, so that during these times children do not become disruptive n strengthen staff's understanding of the curriculum and how young children learn, to raise their achievements to an even higher level.
- 3 October 2022Good
- 17 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.