Caterpillar Club & Bumble Bees CIC
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Chester Le Street for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 1995, with 32 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 Gateshead
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gateshead 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
DH3 1ENWhat 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.
- 5 June 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 25 October 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 21 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this caring nursery, where staff are dedicated to providing highquality learning opportunities. Children have very strong relationships with their key person and other staff. They enjoy cuddles when they first arrive if they are feeling unsettled. Staff are vigilant and act quickly if they feel children are becoming distressed. During a group activity, staff quickly respond with cuddles and reassurance when this happens. Children thoroughly enjoy sitting in the tent that staff had set up and going on a make-believe camping trip. Parents comment that their children love coming and have made good progress, particularly in their communication.
Staff have high expectations for children's learning, including their independence.
Children confidently get themselves ready to go outside. They take of their shoes and put on their wellington boots. Many children attempt to put their coats on themselves. They behave well. This is evident when children line up calmly and quietly to wash their hands. They know that the leader must wait on the line on the floor. Children learn how they can keep themselves safe. For example, they learn how to use scissors safely when cutting play dough. Staff remind children to sit down when they are holding scissors.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- gather more information from parents about what children can do at home and what they are interested in n strengthen monitoring and identify and address the minor inconsistencies in practice.
- 21 March 2023Good
- 5 September 2017Good
- 25 September 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Caterpillar Club & Bumble Bees CIC
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.