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45 nurseries in Sunderland

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

45 day nurseries
11 rated Outstanding
4 with a new report card (9%)
2,363 places in total
£126 a week, 50 hours for a 2 year old after free hours

Outstanding nurseries in Sunderland

11 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 Sunderland
#NurseryOfsted outcomeInspectedPlaces
1Castle Kindergarten Washington, NE37Outstanding18 June 202553
2Houghton Community Nursery School Houghton Le Spring, DH5Outstanding17 June 202552
3Castle Kindergarten Sunderland, SR5Outstanding11 December 202447
4Kids 1st Ashbrooke Sunderland, SR2Outstanding27 October 2023108
5New World Nursery Washington, NE37Outstanding19 June 202372
6Hetton Lyons Nursery School Houghton Le Spring, DH5Outstanding25 April 202325
7Pennywell Early Years Centre Sunderland, SR4Outstanding30 June 202272
8Nesham Private Nursery Houghton Le Spring, DH5Outstanding29 November 202163
9Barnwell Academy Houghton-le-Spring, DH4Outstanding3 November 202136
10Mill Hill Childcare Sunderland, SR3Outstanding23 August 20216
11B2B Plus Project Sunderland, SR2Outstanding21 July 202134

Day nurseries in Sunderland, best rated first

All 45 day nurseries in Sunderland
#NurseryOfsted outcomeInspectedPlaces
1Castle Kindergarten Washington, NE37Outstanding18 June 202553
2Houghton Community Nursery School Houghton Le Spring, DH5Outstanding17 June 202552
3Castle Kindergarten Sunderland, SR5Outstanding11 December 202447
4Kids 1st Ashbrooke Sunderland, SR2Outstanding27 October 2023108
5New World Nursery Washington, NE37Outstanding19 June 202372
6Hetton Lyons Nursery School Houghton Le Spring, DH5Outstanding25 April 202325
7Pennywell Early Years Centre Sunderland, SR4Outstanding30 June 202272
8Nesham Private Nursery Houghton Le Spring, DH5Outstanding29 November 202163
9Barnwell Academy Houghton-le-Spring, DH4Outstanding3 November 202136
10Mill Hill Childcare Sunderland, SR3Outstanding23 August 20216
11B2B Plus Project Sunderland, SR2Outstanding21 July 202134
12Hylton Red House Nursery School Birth to Three Provision Sunderland, SR5Strong standard in 5 of 63 June 202642
13New Beginnings Sunderland, SR5Expected standard in 4 of 65 December 202543
14Cheeky Chimps Childcare Washington, NE37Expected standard in all 65 June 202624
15Little Treasures Nursery Washington, NE37Expected standard in all 619 November 202534
16Washington Day Nursery Washington, NE37Good18 September 202555
17Kids Planet Ashbrooke Sunderland, SR2Good11 July 202560
18Banana Moon Sunderland Sunderland, SR2Good8 April 202550
19Dubmire Daycare Houghton Le Spring, DH4Good20 November 202430
20Helpinghands Childcare Sunderland, SR3Good8 November 202414
21Buttons Nursery Washington, NE37Good24 May 202450
22Busy Bees Day Nursery at Sunderland Ryhope Village Sunderland, SR2Good16 May 2024117
23Apple Blossom Day Nursery Sunderland, SR4Good26 April 202420
24Little Angels Nursery Sunderland, SR3Good4 December 202358
25Springboard Nursery Sunderland, SR4Good29 June 202326
26Apple Blossom Day Nursery Sunderland, SR5Good18 May 202354
27Sunflowers Nursery Sunderland, SR5Good17 May 202346
28Stepping Stones Day Nursery Pattison Industrial Estate, NE38Good10 January 202398
29Busy Bees Day Nursery at Sunderland Fulwell Sunderland, SR5Good23 November 202282
30Playdays 4 Kidz C.I.C Sunderland, SR4Good16 November 202230
31Chilton Meadows Nursery Houghton-le-Spring, DH4Good19 October 202235
32Busy Bees Day Nursery at Sunderland Doxford Sunderland, SR3Good30 May 202290
33The Cedars Nursery Sunderland Sunderland, SR2Good9 May 202263
34High View Nursery Sunderland, SR5Good12 April 202275
35Siblings Nursery Beacon Ltd Sunderland, SR5Good24 June 202137
36Siblings Private Day Nursery Sunderland, SR5Good14 June 202143
37Bubbly Gems Ltd Sunderland, SR4Requires improvement15 July 202526
38Helping Hands Childcare Portsmouth Road, SR4Not yet gradedNot yet58
39Kids Planet Ettrick Grove Sunderland, SR3Not yet gradedNot yet73
40Little Crickets Argyle House Sunderland, SR2Not yet gradedNot yet6
41Little Jems Houghton Le Spring, DH5Not yet gradedNot yet72
42Nurserytime Sunderland, SR5Not yet gradedNot yet74
43Saints in Light Nursery School Sunderland, SR1Not yet gradedNot yet
44Your Co-Op Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School Hetton Houghton Le Spring, DH5Not yet gradedNot yet78
45Your Co-Op Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School Tavistock House Sunderland, SR1Not yet gradedNot yet132

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

Towns in Sunderland

Nurseries by postcode in Sunderland

Nursery fees in Sunderland

What day nurseries in North East charge on average. Fees in Sunderland 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 Sunderland

The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in Sunderland 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.