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24 nurseries in Darlington

Every day nursery in the Darlington council area, best rated first, with the ones Ofsted rated Outstanding and what a place costs after the free hours.

24 day nurseries
2 rated Outstanding
1 with a new report card (4%)
1,340 places in total
£126 a week, 50 hours for a 2 year old after free hours

Outstanding nurseries in Darlington

2 nurseries in the area are in our top band: rated Outstanding, or graded Strong standard or better across a new report card.

Top-band day nurseries in Darlington
#NurseryOfsted outcomeInspectedPlaces
1Little Acorns Darlington, DL2Outstanding26 September 202536
2Parkside Childcare Darlington, DL1Outstanding5 September 202434

Day nurseries in Darlington, best rated first

All 24 day nurseries in Darlington
#NurseryOfsted outcomeInspectedPlaces
1Little Acorns Darlington, DL2Outstanding26 September 202536
2Parkside Childcare Darlington, DL1Outstanding5 September 202434
3Serendipity Nursery And Outdoor Learning Darlington, DL2Expected standard in 5 of 618 February 202657
4Ferndene Nursery Darlington, DL3Good20 August 202578
5Kids 1st - Darlington Darlington, DL2Good3 June 2025108
6St. Edwin's Pre-School Darlington, DL2Good21 May 202520
7Danesmoor House Day Nursery Darlington, DL3Good29 April 202576
8Darlington College Childcare Centre Darlington, DL1Good12 December 202453
9Upperthorpe Nursery Darlington, DL3Good29 November 202499
10Eastbourne Pre-School Darlington, DL1Good18 July 202324
11Maidendale Nursery Darlington, DL1Good14 June 202372
12Pierremont Pre-School Darlington, DL3Good2 March 202326
13Secret Garden Day Nursery Darlington, DL1Good16 November 202240
14Busy Bees Day Nursery at Darlington Darlington, DL3Good9 November 202288
15Flora House Day Nursery Darlington, DL3Good8 April 202260
16Sadberge Pre-School Sadberge, DL2Good4 March 202221
17The Play Hut Darlington, DL1Good22 February 202269
18Broadway Daycare Darlington, DL1Good18 February 202255
19Little Lingfields Limited Darlington, DL1Good27 January 202259
20Big Kids Little Kids Nursery and out of School Club Darlington, DL1Good12 January 2022104
21Middleton St George Day Nursery Darlington, DL2Good29 July 202127
22MAGIK Out of School Club Darlington, DL2Good6 July 202170
23Kids Planet Darlington Darlington, DL3Not yet gradedNot yet64
24Outdoor-Ambition Ltd Darlington, DL3Not yet gradedNot yet

How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.

Nurseries by postcode in Darlington

Nursery fees in Darlington

What day nurseries in North East charge on average. Fees in Darlington itself can sit above or below this.

Average weekly price in term time, North East, Coram Childcare Survey 2026
Child's age25 hours a week50 hours a week
Under 2£166no funded hours£140after 30 funded hours
2 years old£159no funded hours£126after 30 funded hours
3 to 4 years old£58after the free 15 hours£117after 30 funded hours

Regional average, not any one nursery's price. Source: Coram Childcare Survey 2026. Work out your own monthly cost.

30 hours free childcare in Darlington

The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in Darlington as anywhere in England. Every day nursery listed here is registered with Ofsted, which is what a nursery needs to offer them.

Check which hours your child can get

WhoFree hours a week
Working parents, child from 9 months30 hours
Every 3 and 4 year old15 hours
2 year olds in families getting some benefits15 hours

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.