St Philip's Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Gateshead 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2023. Open since 2008, 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 Gateshead
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gateshead 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
NE8 2QUWhat 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 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Parents and children are welcomed with a kind and friendly smile as they arrive each day. Staff foster warm and nurturing relationships with children. This helps them to feel safe and 'at home' in the pre-school. Children are actively involved in choosing which activities they want to take part in. They are so absorbed in their learning they are unaware when a visitor is present. Familiar routines such as circle time, and story-time help provide a settled experience in which children thrive.
Children play well together. For example, during a game, children take turns and wait patiently until it is their turn to throw the dice. They use mathematical knowledge they have learned as they count how many cards they have and recognise who has the most. Staff develop children's mathematical vocabulary by introducing terms, such as long and short.
Staff have a genuine care for every child. They model turn taking and have high expectations of children's behaviour and children respond well to these. Children learn how to be kind, considerate and well mannered. For example, they help each other to put their aprons on, and remind their friends to put the rubbish in the bin.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- place a sharper focus on planning purposeful outdoor activities to maximise children's learning n provide more opportunities for children to develop and explore their own creative ideas.
- 15 November 2023Good
- 24 May 2018Good
- 3 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Philip's 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.