House of Eden
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Newton Aycliffe for babies from 9 months up to school age, open 08:45 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 2010, with 32 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
From September 2025, working families will be able to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week during term time, for children aged 9 months to 4 years.
Worth knowing. Your free 30 hours are sessional; A half day is 8-1pm or 1-6pm and is 5 hours per session; A full day is 8am-6pm and is 10 hours per session; There is a small charge for early morning care from 7:30am-8am; For Funded places, there is a charge for a consumables package which consists meals, nappies, wipes, change creams, sun cream and more.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DL5 7DDWhat 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.
- 24 February 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 24 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, settled and secure at this friendly and welcoming setting. They benefit from a wide range of interesting and challenging activities and experiences that cover all areas of learning. There is a strong focus on nature and caring for the natural world. For example, children grow beans in pots and learn about the life cycle of frogs. They hunt for their favourite insects with magnifying glasses in the enclosed garden. Children learn about the wider world beyond their own. For example, they learn about life on a farm and make flags and crowns to help mark the Queen's Jubilee.
Children's behaviour is good. Staff provide strong support to help them explore and manage their feelings and emotions. For example, staff encourage children to talk about their feelings with others at group time. Children paint faces that are happy or sad with water and brushes during outdoor play to show how they feel. They are growing in confidence and independence. Staff encourage children to independently put on their coats and wash their hands. They invite them to be helpers and take part in daily tasks, such as tidying up and clearing away plates at mealtimes. Children find their own photos and names during registration. These secure daily routines help them to feel a sense of belonging.
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 experiences at home to help plan more precise support for children's learning and well-being.
- 24 May 2022Good
- 4 January 2017Good
- 10 July 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for House of Eden
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.