8 nurseries in DL2 (Staindrop, Gainford, Darlington new estates)
Every day nursery with a DL2 postcode, best rated first, and what a place costs in North East after the free hours.
Day nurseries in DL2 (Staindrop, Gainford, Darlington new estates), best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kids Planet High Bank DL2 2QE | Strong standard in all 6 | 14 January 2026 | 140 |
| 2 | Little Acorns DL2 2ET | Outstanding | 26 September 2025 | 36 |
| 3 | Serendipity Nursery And Outdoor Learning DL2 1DL | Expected standard in 5 of 6 | 18 February 2026 | 57 |
| 4 | Kids 1st - Darlington DL2 2GF | Good | 3 June 2025 | 108 |
| 5 | St. Edwin's Pre-School DL2 2LR | Good | 21 May 2025 | 20 |
| 6 | Sadberge Pre-School DL2 1SW | Good | 4 March 2022 | 21 |
| 7 | Middleton St George Day Nursery DL2 1JG | Good | 29 July 2021 | 27 |
| 8 | MAGIK Out of School Club DL2 1LD | Good | 6 July 2021 | 70 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
DL2 is in Darlington and North Yorkshire.
Nursery fees in DL2
What day nurseries in North East charge on average. Fees in DL2 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 DL2
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in DL2 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.