What Ofsted grade does First Steps have?

First Steps was rated Outstanding at its inspection on 31 January 2023, under the grading Ofsted used before report cards.

How many children can First Steps take?

Ofsted registers First Steps for 44 places at any one time. The average day nursery in Durham has 59.

How much does First Steps cost?

First Steps sets its own fees, so ask it for a price list. As a guide, the average nursery in North East charges £166 a week for 25 hours for a child under 2, before any free hours.

Does First Steps offer 30 hours free childcare?

Any nursery on the Ofsted Early Years Register can offer the funded hours, but each one chooses how many funded places it has and what it charges for meals and extras. Ask First Steps how it offers them.

When was First Steps last inspected?

Ofsted last inspected First Steps on 31 January 2023. The full report is on the Ofsted website.

Which nurseries are near First Steps?

Nearby in DH3: Mains House Nursery, 2nd Home Childcare Ltd@Barley Mow, Bright Star Nursery.

First Steps

Day nursery in Durham, DH3.

129 Medway, Great Lumley, Chester-le-Street, DH3 4HU

44 places

2010 registered with Ofsted

8 of 91 in our Durham ranking

£117 a week, 50 hours for a 3 year old, North East average

What Ofsted found

Outstanding Inspected 31 January 2023

Ofsted grades for First Steps, inspection of 31 January 2023
Judgement	Grade
Overall effectiveness	Outstanding
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding

The highest of the four grades Ofsted gave before report cards. Ofsted now gives report cards instead, so this grade stays until the next inspection.

Read the full Ofsted report Open in maps

What a place could cost

First Steps sets its own prices. These are the averages for day nurseries in North East, for 50 hours a week in term time once the 30 funded hours are taken off.

Child's age	You pay a week	About a month
From 9 months to 2	£140	£444
2 years old	£126	£398
3 to 4 years old	£117	£369

A month here is 38 term-time weeks spread over 12 months. Work out your own hours or check your free hours.

First Steps against Durham

	First Steps	Durham average
Places	44	59
Ofsted outcome	Outstanding	86% rated Good or better

Other nurseries close by

Questions parents ask about First Steps

What Ofsted grade does First Steps have?: First Steps was rated Outstanding at its inspection on 31 January 2023, under the grading Ofsted used before report cards.
How many children can First Steps take?: Ofsted registers First Steps for 44 places at any one time. The average day nursery in Durham has 59.
How much does First Steps cost?: First Steps sets its own fees, so ask it for a price list. As a guide, the average nursery in North East charges £166 a week for 25 hours for a child under 2, before any free hours.
Does First Steps offer 30 hours free childcare?: Any nursery on the Ofsted Early Years Register can offer the funded hours, but each one chooses how many funded places it has and what it charges for meals and extras. Ask First Steps how it offers them.
When was First Steps last inspected?: Ofsted last inspected First Steps on 31 January 2023. The full report is on the Ofsted website.
Which nurseries are near First Steps?: Nearby in DH3: Mains House Nursery, 2nd Home Childcare Ltd@Barley Mow, Bright Star Nursery.

Nursery list and inspection outcomes from Ofsted's register of childcare providers, as at 30 June 2026.

Fees shown are regional averages from the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026, not any one nursery’s price. Confirm with the nursery before enrolling.

Eligibility rules are the government’s (childcarechoices.gov.uk). Whether a nursery offers the funded hours, and what it charges for meals and consumables, is the nursery’s decision; ask for its funded-hours terms in writing.