Houghton Community Nursery School
Outstanding★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Houghton Le Spring for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2013, with 52 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
DH5 8AEWhat 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, 17 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The experience this nursery provides for children and their families is of the very highest standard and is worthy of dissemination to others. The outstanding provision is built around a well-established culture, that holds the care of children and families at its core.
The curriculum is exceptionally broad. Children are immersed in a range of off-site visits, including the forest and the beach where they develop a vast array of knowledge and skills, including an extensive vocabulary. Furthermore, they gain a deep understanding of how to stay safe in these environments. These enriching experiences have a powerful impact on the most vulnerable children. For instance children express their awe and wonder of the surroundings in forest school, as they investigate the different types of trees with magnifying glasses.
Every aspect of children's care and education is meticulously planned to ensure that all children make excellent progress from their starting points. The ambitious curriculum is expertly delivered by a team of highly qualified, passionate staff. Their enthusiasm and joy for learning is infectious. They provide stimulating learning experiences which ignite children's fascinations and promote deep levels of curiosity. Furthermore, staff provide children with time to explore and process new learning at their own pace. Children are provided with opportunities to revisit and consolidate prior learning. Staff pay close attention in these moments and readily facilitate and extend children's knowledge further. Parents and carers describe the care and support their children receive in this nursery as being exceptional.
- 17 June 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 13 November 2019Outstanding
- 23 September 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Houghton Community Nursery 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.