West Park Kindergarten
Outstanding★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in South Shields 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Outstanding by Ofsted in January 2022. Open since 2005, with 78 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 South Tyneside
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in South Tyneside 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
NE33 4LBWhat 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, 5 January 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children engage exceptionally well throughout all aspects of the nursery day. They demonstrate high levels of creativity and imagination as they play. For instance, they work collaboratively on challenging tasks and demonstrate perseverance as they jointly arrive at solutions to problems they encounter. They create pretend volcanos during sand play. Staff's precise observations of children's learning means that they can accurately help to extend children's learning further. For example, small groups are supported to use large electronic devices and watch recordings of active volcanos. Staff introduce an extensive range of vocabulary to children. This includes words such as 'magma' and 'molten lava'. Children show enthusiasm as they learn about how volcanos are formed. Staff expertly continue children's learning through inviting children to conduct their own pretend volcanic experiments using sweets and fizzy drinks.
Children benefit from a highly ambitious curriculum. They develop exceptional rates of independence. Staff liaise closely with the local schools where children attend.
They work together on key skills children need to learn. Staff use dinner trays and encourage children to start to serve themselves during mealtimes. Children are encouraged to recall their previous learning. They join in with extensive conversations and talk about what they can see others playing with.
- 5 January 2022Outstanding
- 20 December 2016Good
- 23 June 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for West Park Kindergarten
- 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.