Crookhill Early Years
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Ryton for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2015, with 60 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
NE40 3ESWhat 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 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are at the heart of everything this setting does. They are encouraged to be independent and learn to do things themselves. Children put on their own coats, hats and scarfs ready to play outside. They wash their own hands before lunch and snack. They are encouraged to tidy up, and put toys away. The environment has been carefully thought out so that children can access a range of resources independently. This includes activities, such as mixing their own paint and choosing their own creative materials. Older children who attend before and after school have the benefit of being able to play with a wide range of activities after a day at school. Younger children enjoy playing alongside their older friends.
Children are encouraged to be outdoors in all weathers. During the winter, they go sledging in the snow and explore ice which has frozen inside containers in the mud kitchen. They use mathematical language to describe the shape of the ice and then they count the number of pieces of ice once they crack it apart. With the support of inquisitive adults, they develop curiosity about the world around them. Through experiences, including forest school, they get to see deer, squirrels and foxes around the setting. They are excited to share these experiences with their families, telling them, 'that's where the foxes live'.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review group time activities and consider how to promote younger children's engagement and enjoyment to a higher level n enhance even further staff's focus on children's early language development, to ensure that all children make the best possible progress in their communication skills.
- 18 January 2023Good
- 28 February 2017Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Crookhill Early Years
- 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.