Little Acorns
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Darlington for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2025. Open since 2011, with 36 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
DL2 2ETWhat 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, 26 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
This nursery offers a nurturing environment where children thrive. Staff prioritise supportive relationships, especially for children new to the setting. They create a calm and secure atmosphere where children feel safe, valued and ready to learn.
Carefully planned grouping of children ensures that high-quality education continues while staff sensitively support those settling in.
The curriculum is ambitious, child-led and rooted in the highest expectations for language and emotional development. Staff promote deep engagement through carefully chosen experiences that reflect children's interests and developmental needs. They plan activities precisely, ensuring each one supports specific learning goals. Older children build houses at the craft table, developing creativity, collaboration and expressive language. Younger children mix 'potions', exploring sensory materials and extending vocabulary through imaginative play. Staff enrich the curriculum with real-world activities that build on children's experiences and deepen their understanding of community. Children visit the local café for drinks and snacks and pick apples in the nearby orchard. These outings foster a strong sense of belonging and help children to connect learning to the world around them.
- 26 September 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 23 January 2020Good
- 26 January 2016Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Acorns
- 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.