Whickham Cottage Nursery
Good★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Newcastle upon Tyne for children from birth to 5, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2023. Open since 2014, with 108 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 Gateshead
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gateshead 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
NE16 3DNWhat 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, 13 September 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
From the youngest age, children settle quickly in this welcoming nursery. They form warm bonds with staff and arrive eager to explore the day's activities. Staff have high expectations for every child and use their knowledge of children to plan learning opportunities. Children make good progress from their starting points.
They are eager to join in with activities and show curiosity in novel objects.
Children are keen to learn about the natural world and explore different tools as they investigate with hammers how to break ice blocks. Children are helpful and learn how to take care of the resources and toys on offer. For instance, they talk about how to use hammers safely and pick up toys from the floor. Children say
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to further develop their understanding of the curriculum so that they are aware of the specific learning intentions for individual children n develop the use of techniques that encourage children to talk and express themselves so that their language and communication skills are fully enhanced throughout the day.
- 13 September 2023Good
- 3 January 2018Good
- 8 September 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Whickham Cottage Nursery
- 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.