Eastbourne Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Darlington for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 16:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2014, with 24 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
DL1 1LJWhat 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 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children display keen interests in their play and staff help them to make decisions about what they want to do. For example, children spend time exploring play dough. They use their imagination effectively. For example, children make cakes and sing 'Happy birthday'. Children enjoy role play. They pretend to be builders and wear school uniforms from the local schools. Staff talk to children about when they will move to school, and these opportunities help to prepare children when the time comes.
Children play cooperatively together and treat others well. Staff help children to learn to take turns and share. Behaviour in the pre-school is very good. Children enjoy regular outdoor play, where they can develop their physical skills. For instance, they use slides, ride-on resources and can climb trees. This helps to strengthen children's balance, movement and coordination. Staff support children to develop good health and well-being. They offer healthy snacks and encourage parents to provide children with healthy packed lunches. Staff provide activities and talk to children about the importance of brushing their teeth.
Staff have high expectations of children. They work very closely with parents to support children's learning and development. For example, staff share information with parents about the activities that children enjoy. They send home ideas for children's learning to continue at home.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- monitor the quality of teaching even more closely to identify further areas where staff can extend their skills n review and enhance some parts of the daily routines, especially the length of adult-led group times, to maximise the learning for all children.
- 18 July 2023Good
- 6 November 2017Good
- 9 September 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Eastbourne Pre-School
- 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.