Shilbottle Friendly Frog Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Alnwick for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in July 2025. Open since 2010, with 24 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 Northumberland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Northumberland 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
NE66 2XQWhat 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, 15 July 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children develop a strong sense of belonging at this very warm and friendly setting. They are extremely settled and happy. Children develop their senses as they explore with cereal and foam. They concentrate fully as they thread cereal and share books with their friends. Dedicated staff are respectful, gentle and kind.
They build wonderful relationships with children. Staff are very proud of children's achievements and provide plenty of praise and encouragement. This helps to build children's confidence and self-esteem.
There is a very strong focus on children's emotional development in the curriculum.
- 15 July 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 27 November 2019Good
- 1 June 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Shilbottle Friendly Frog Pre-School
- 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.