Mayo Kindergarten
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Cockermouth 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2025. Open since 2006, with 26 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 Cumberland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Cumberland 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
CA13 0BYWhat 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, 17 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are eager to start their day at this setting, which prides itself on its homely, warm atmosphere. Staff eagerly greet children as they arrive, which supports children to settle really quickly. Children who have not yet been in attendance for more than two weeks happily access resources, interact with other children and take part in routines. Children demonstrate that they feel secure and happy. Staff are very good role models and enthusiastically engage in children's play, modelling and supporting children to be independent. Children enjoy taking part in routines and ensure that resources are tidied away in the correct place.
The curriculum is ambitious for all children and engages them in imaginative experiences that support their learning and development. Older children enjoy playing a matching game where they collect characters on a farm, noting their similarities and differences. Younger children enjoy watching in awe and wonder as they make tyre tracks on large pieces of paper using toy tractors. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to support children's developing skills.
Staff offer lots of encouragement and praise for children as they attempt new things. Children show they are determined and keep trying. For example, outside, children keep trying different ways to climb the climbing wall, and inside, children keep trying to manipulate dough to make snakes. Children listen carefully to staff, share resources and help one another. Children's behaviour is very good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure that the intent of every activity is really clear for every member of staff so that children's learning and development is consistently supported n provide enough time for children to listen and formulate a response when a question is asked to support communication and language.
- 17 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 20 November 2019Good
- 10 February 2014Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Mayo Kindergarten
- 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.