Tiny Tinkers Nursery
GoodTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Open a few years
A day nursery in Houghton Le Spring for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. £53.00 a day for 2-3 years, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2022, with 36 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
| Age | Full day | Session | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 yearsbirth to 2y | £58.008:00am – 6:00pm | £32.00Morning (8:00am - 1pm) or Afternoon (1pm – 6:00pm), 5 hrs | £7.00Extra Hours £7.50Extra Hours | |
| Over 22y to 5y | – | – | £6.00Extra Hours | |
| 2-3 years2y to 3y | £53.008:00am – 6:00pm | £29.00Morning (8:00am - 1pm) or Afternoon (1pm – 6:00pm), 5 hrs | – |
Discounts
- 5% Sibling discountfamilies with more than one child attending Tiny Tinkers Nursery
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
Funded hours
We offer funded places for all children who are eligible.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DH4 6DSWhat 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.
- 17 February 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 11 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff create a warm, friendly and home-from-home environment for children. There are plenty of resources for children to choose from. Many are items found in a home, such as egg cups or boxes with lids for children to put things in. These stimulate their interest and imagination. Children arrive eager to play and learn.
The views of children are very important to managers and staff. They talk to children about what they want in the nursery. For example, children suggested a garden centre in the outdoor area. Staff have developed this area. Children become highly engaged in planting, digging in soil and watering the plants. Staff have provided many opportunities for children to make marks. They draw on blackboards and easels and use paintbrushes with water to paint on the wall outside. This helps to develop their hand muscles and is preparation for their early writing skills.
Staff help children to understand the behaviour rules. Children recall the rules.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to understand the impact of using negative words with children n support staff to know when to discuss children's feelings with them to help them to understand their emotions.
- 11 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 24 January 2025Inadequate Safeguarding: No
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Tiny Tinkers Nursery
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £53.00 a day still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? 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.