Top Tots Daycare
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Middlesbrough for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 August 2023. Open since 2004, with 62 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 Redcar and Cleveland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Redcar and Cleveland 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
TS6 6SUWhat 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 August 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children and staff form strong bonds in this welcoming nursery. In the baby room, children beam with delight as they hug their key person when they enter the room.
Older children invite staff to join them in their play. Staff take time to listen to children and to take account of their feelings and choices. Children are skilfully encouraged to try new foods. They are invited to take turns to choose their favourite songs. Staff provide effective support to help children who are ready to move to the next room in the nursery, and on to school. This supports children's well-being and emotional security.
Children enjoy exploring the safe and stimulating learning environment, inside and outdoors. Staff set out resources to help children to make independent choices about their play. They get to know children extremely well. Staff set up activities linked to children's interests. This encourages children to take part in a wide range of different opportunities throughout the day. For instance, children use magnifying glasses to carefully observe the movement of a worm. Staff help children to count as they hunt for hidden farm animals. They read to children frequently. Staff do so with such skill and enthusiasm that children become engrossed. This helps children to develop a love of literacy.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider how to ensure that all children benefit from highly effective interactions with staff, especially when learning outside n support staff to consistently use the correct vocabulary to support children's language development.
- 15 August 2023Good
- 14 March 2023Inadequate
- 8 March 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Top Tots Daycare
- 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.