The Play Hut
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in February 2022. Open since 1998, with 69 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
DL1 3BLWhat 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, 22 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children show enjoyment, enthusiasm and excitement in their learning. Staff know them well and use this knowledge to prepare activities which reflect children's interests and broaden their experiences. Babies delight as staff sing to them and they choose items from the basket. They clap along to rhymes and begin to develop social skills. Young children enjoy using trucks to make marks in paint.
Staff praise them and encourage them to explore paint with their hands. Older children choose to draw, read and play mathematical games with winter themes.
Staff have high expectations for all children and focus their teaching to close gaps in learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported effectively. The manager has close partnerships with other professionals and promotes continuity of learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - enhance staff's teaching outdoors to maintain the high-quality learning experiences for children and maximise progress
- review the sleeping arrangements for babies, with specific regard to the use of pushchairs.
- 22 February 2022Good
- 27 September 2016Good
- 3 October 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Play Hut
- 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.