Howletch & Shotton Primary Childcare
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Peterlee 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2023. Open since 2008, with 40 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SR8 2NQWhat 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, 11 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are very happy, settled and emotionally secure in the warm, welcoming environment. Babies enjoy positive interactions with staff. Staff show older babies small-world animals and sing 'Old McDonald'. Babies respond by repeating the words from the song. Staff give children lots of praise and encouragement. This helps to raise children's confidence and self-esteem. Older babies enjoy exploring a variety of open-ended resources. They scoop, pour and make marks in pink 'fairy dust' and concentrate as they place coins into an interactive toy. Babies enjoy looking at books and pointing to the animals. This helps to develop children's early literacy skills.
Older children choose to play in the well resourced garden. They show a positive attitude to their learning as they move around the setting independently choosing what to play with. Children's behaviour is good. Staff encourage children to share and take turns with their friends. For instance, children take turns using a magnifying glass and a bug catcher. Children have excellent opportunities to stay active and build on their gross motor skills. For example, they dig in mud, uncovering worms and vegetables. Children design their own obstacle courses with tyres, wooden blocks and planks. They scoop up stones using shovels and watch them as they cascade down a drainpipe. This helps to develop children's largemuscle skills, balance and coordination.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to better recognise and make more effective use of spontaneous opportunities to extend and challenge children's learning.
- 11 May 2023Good
- 30 October 2017Good
- 27 May 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Howletch & Shotton Primary Childcare
- 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.