9 nurseries in DL1 (Darlington)
Every day nursery with a DL1 postcode, best rated first, and what a place costs in North East after the free hours.
Day nurseries in DL1 (Darlington), best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkside Childcare DL1 5TY | Outstanding | 5 September 2024 | 34 |
| 2 | Darlington College Childcare Centre DL1 1DR | Good | 12 December 2024 | 53 |
| 3 | Eastbourne Pre-School DL1 1LJ | Good | 18 July 2023 | 24 |
| 4 | Maidendale Nursery DL1 4SU | Good | 14 June 2023 | 72 |
| 5 | Secret Garden Day Nursery DL1 2DF | Good | 16 November 2022 | 40 |
| 6 | The Play Hut DL1 3BL | Good | 22 February 2022 | 69 |
| 7 | Broadway Daycare DL1 1EJ | Good | 18 February 2022 | 55 |
| 8 | Little Lingfields Limited DL1 1RW | Good | 27 January 2022 | 59 |
| 9 | Big Kids Little Kids Nursery and out of School Club DL1 1QU | Good | 12 January 2022 | 104 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
DL1 is in Darlington.
Nursery fees in DL1
What day nurseries in North East charge on average. Fees in DL1 itself can sit above or below this.
| Child's age | 25 hours a week | 50 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 DL1
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in DL1 as anywhere in England. Every day nursery listed here is registered with Ofsted, which is what a nursery needs to offer them.
| Who | Free hours a week |
|---|---|
| Working parents, child from 9 months | 30 hours |
| Every 3 and 4 year old | 15 hours |
| 2 year olds in families getting some benefits | 15 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.