Tummyticklers
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Billingham for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 August 2023. Open since 2012, with 50 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 Stockton-on-Tees
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Stockton-on-Tees 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
TS23 1HGWhat 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, 30 August 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happily and eager to start their day. They are greeted by the caring, nurturing staff team, who welcome them into the nursery. Staff are quick to respond to children's needs. For instance, children who come into the nursery unsettled are quickly provided with cuddles and reassurance. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Staff provide a stimulating environment for children, indoors and outside. Children choose from a wide range of interesting activities. Older babies giggle with delight as they practise feeding the dolls porridge oats. Older children play together imaginatively, creating storylines. For example, they pretend to create a 'volcano house' and decide which dinosaurs can enter.
Children behave extremely well. Staff praise children for using good manners, sharing and taking turns. This helps children to understand what behaviour is expected and promotes their confidence and self-esteem. Staff encourage children to complete tasks for themselves. For instance, toddlers wash their hands, cut up their snack and serve themselves lunch. This helps to develop their self-care skills and independence. Staff provide children with plenty of time outside in the garden.
They teach them how to manage risks, such as when they climb up and down the climbing frame. This helps children to develop their large muscles, balance and coordination.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to focus more closely on all of the available opportunities within activities to challenge and extend children's learning even further n use the initial information gathered from parents to plan for children's learning effectively from the very beginning.
- 30 August 2023Good
- 26 February 2018Good
- 17 October 2017Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Tummyticklers
- 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.