Private Day Nurseries

Private Day Nurseries provide childcare for babies as young as six weeks to four-year-olds.

List of Nurseries on the Children and Young People's Directory [external link] 

For more information about private day nurseries in your area contact the Families Information Service on 0800 917 2121 or email: fis@darlington.gov.uk

  • Most Day Nurseries also offer care for school aged children, Breakfast Club, After School Club and Holiday Clubs.
  • The hours a provider is open varies from between 7.30am to 7.00pm five days a weeks all year round, with some offering Saturday care.
  • All providers who are caring for children from birth to 5 years old must use The Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The aim of this is to help young children achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes of: staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being.
  • All Day care provision has to be Ofsted registered. Parents can access Ofsted reports for providers on the Ofsted web site [external website]
  • They must be registered on the Early Years Register and if taking older children up to 8 on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
  • Parents can access Tax Credits to help with childcare costs.
  • All providers have a Safeguarding Children policy and other policies/procedures which are available for parents to look at.