Chilton Meadows Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Houghton-Le-Spring for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2003, with 35 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
DH4 6LXWhat 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, 19 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this caring nursery where staff treat children as part of the family. Children demonstrate that they are happy as they sit on knees and look at books. Older children thoroughly enjoy collecting leaves into a Halloween potion outside. Staff are vigilant and respond quickly when they feel that children are showing signs of distress. For example, they are on hand to provide cuddles and reassurance when children are tired. Parents speak highly of the caring and nurturing staff. They value the support and advice which they receive from staff.
Parents like the stay-and-play sessions that staff arrange or the activity packs that are sent home. This helps them to understand how they can support their children at home.
Children learn how they can keep themselves safe and healthy. For example, they wash their hands before eating and use a range of tools and materials safely as they play. Staff have high expectations for children's learning. Staff working with toddlers plan activities to help them to listen and concentrate. Children concentrate intently as they pass a bell around the circle without making a noise.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- gather more detailed information from parents about children's interests and fascinations at home to help them become highly engaged in their learning n ensure that staff understand and implement key messages from training and meetings.
- 19 October 2022Good
- 14 November 2016Outstanding
- 23 April 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Chilton Meadows Nursery
- 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.