MAGIK Out of School Club
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Darlington 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 July 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2007, with 70 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 1LDWhat 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, 6 July 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
MAGIK is a happy, welcoming setting. Right from the start, children enter with smiles on their faces ready to start their day. Staff prioritise, making time to talk with and listen to children. They quickly get to know children's interests, likes and dislikes. As a result, children show great enthusiasm in all activities. They settle quickly and sustain their concentration for lengthy periods of time. They make choices about their learning and show much confidence and independence when they need to. This is evident in their independent dressing for outdoor learning and collecting and returning their trays at lunchtime.
Children use their imaginations to explore new materials and equipment and to act out real and imaginary experiences. They create their own storylines as they play with small-world superhero figures. This helps them to sustain their curiosity, work with others and use their imagination. Children show high levels of respect towards their peers and adults. They clearly know the difference between right and wrong behaviour. They learn to share toys and resources and understand the importance of being kind to each other. For example, a child tells their friend, 'I'm really impressed with you', after they succeeded in removing their sandwiches from the package. Children comment that they have fun at the setting. They explain that they really enjoy playing with the toys and their friends.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the use of observation and assessment to help staff to clearly identify when to move children on in their learning and make even further progress n continue to strengthen the good teaching skills of the staff by focusing further on extending the early writing skills for boys through active play.
- 6 July 2021Good
- 7 November 2019Inadequate
- 9 April 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for MAGIK Out of School Club
- 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.