Kids 1st - Durham
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Durham 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2006, with 110 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DH1 5SEWhat 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 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this warm, nurturing and exciting setting. They are warmly greeted by caring, supportive staff. Staff are very attentive and responsive, especially to new children and those that need help to settle into their day. They provide cuddles, reassurance and consistent routines. This helps children to settle, feel secure and promotes their emotional well-being. Children's behaviour is good.
Staff have high expectations for the children and praise them for their efforts.
Children play well together and show kindness to one another.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- embed and monitor children's next steps within day-to-day planning, to help support children to make rapid progress n make clear in the written progress check for children aged two, what staff intend to do to support children's next steps in their learning.
- 18 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 8 October 2019Good
- 27 October 2014Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Kids 1st - Durham
- 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.