Universal Kids Childcare
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Blakelaw, Newcastle upon Tyne for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2023. Open since 2009, with 22 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 Newcastle upon Tyne
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Newcastle upon Tyne 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
NE5 3PLWhat 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 June 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Parents comment that their children run into this outstanding nursery very enthusiastically, excited to start their day. Children can choose to play and learn outdoors in all weathers. They are deeply involved in their learning, displaying constant enjoyment and motivation when they play. Older children persevere and work things out for themselves. They have wonderful ideas and demonstrate excellent vocabularies. For example, when playing in a large sit-in sandpit outside, children decide to make a 'river'. They work together to empty and carry a large bucket inside and fill it with water from the tap. Children construct ramps from guttering and proudly exclaim that they have made a 'waterfall'. They extend their play by using planks of wood to make a 'bridge' to balance and walk across.
Staff want all children to achieve their full potential and have the best start in life.
Children sit in cosy areas in the garden, retelling their favourite stories from books.
- 15 June 2023Outstanding
- 2 November 2017Good
- 17 November 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Universal Kids Childcare
- 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.