4 nurseries in DL12 (Barnard Castle, Bowes, Middleton-in-Teesdale)
Every day nursery with a DL12 postcode, best rated first, and what a place costs in North East after the free hours.
Day nurseries in DL12 (Barnard Castle, Bowes, Middleton-in-Teesdale), best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirklands at Startforth DL12 9AQ | Outstanding | 26 April 2023 | 24 |
| 2 | Green Lane Nursery and Childcare Centre DL12 8LG | Strong standard in 4 of 6 | 27 November 2025 | 95 |
| 3 | Little Meadows Nursery DL12 8XT | Good | 22 July 2025 | 48 |
| 4 | Dawn Till Dusk Childcare DL12 0TG | Good | 7 March 2024 | 21 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
DL12 is in Durham, covering Barnard Castle.
Nursery fees in DL12
What day nurseries in North East charge on average. Fees in DL12 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 DL12
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in DL12 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.