Danesmoor House Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Darlington 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 April 2025. Open since 2012, with 76 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 Darlington
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Darlington 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
DL3 8RHWhat 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, 29 April 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and benefit from the gentle, thoughtful support that staff give them at this nursery. They show that they feel safe and secure and move about the rooms with confidence. Staff provide children with a calm and positive environment. They talk to children in gentle tones and show all children respect.
Children are positive and independent learners. Older children use mathematical language in their play to compare who is the tallest. Toddlers carefully wash the dolls in soapy water, while babies keenly explore natural resources, such as rice and straw, on floor trays. Staff create valuable opportunities to enhance children's understanding of the world. For example, children follow instructions well and successfully plant turnip seeds while engaging in discussions about what they need to grow. This helps them build on their life experiences.
Babies are cared for by attentive staff who carefully follow each child's individual routines. For instance, babies are made comfortable when they are tired and are offered their comforters and cuddles as they are soothed to sleep. Children behave well. Staff are very intuitive and promptly respond to children's needs with kindness and empathy. They recognise children's achievements and continuously praise them for their efforts to boost their self-esteem and confidence. This results in children being considerate and kind to each other.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to develop the curriculum for the outdoor area to provide more varied and targeted learning experiences for children who prefer to play and learn outside n enhance children's opportunities to explore an even wider range of both fiction and non-fiction books and other texts to help them develop a wider understanding of the world around them.
- 29 April 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 19 July 2019Good
- 25 March 2019Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Danesmoor House Day 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.