Opening hours
Open five days a week, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round, other than bank holidays and a week at Christmas.
Castle Kindergarten in Haswell
Ofsted: Good
(Aug 2025)
Number of places
59 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Aug 2025
Local authority
Durham
About this day nursery
Castle Kindergarten, located across multiple sites in the North East including Haswell, Albany, Hylton Castle, and Sacriston, is dedicated to offering a nurturing and enriching childcare experience. The philosophy centres on fostering discovery and creativity within a safe, stimulating, and joyful environment that serves as a daytime alternative to home.
The nurseries provide imaginative spaces filled with engaging materials and toys, encouraging children to explore, create, and learn. Both indoor and outdoor areas are designed to be dynamic and versatile, promoting physical activity, exploration, discussion, and connection with the natural world.
Castle Kindergarten emphasises a strong partnership with parents, recognising them as essential educators, and offers resources for shared learning experiences at home. The staff are described as passionate and warm, ensuring that children, from babies to those preparing for primary school, build secure bonds with their caregivers.
Our ethos
Castle Kindergarten's philosophy centres on fostering discovery and creativity within a safe, stimulating, and joyful environment. They aim to provide imaginative spaces that encourage exploration, creation, and learning, with dynamic indoor and outdoor areas designed for activity, exploration, and connection with nature. They also emphasise a strong partnership with parents, recognising them as essential educators.
What it's like
Staff provide a nurturing and supportive environment where children thrive. Their enthusiasm for learning is contagious, and children delight in positive interactions. Staff carefully plan indoor and outdoor learning environments to meet children's needs and interests.
Creative Learning EnvironmentIndoor and Outdoor PlayStrong Parent Partnership
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2024
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Castle Kindergarten
Last inspected 13 August 2025
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Staff provide a nurturing and supportive environment where children thrive. Their enthusiasm for learning is contagious, and children delight in positive interactions. Staff carefully plan indoor and outdoor learning environments to meet children's needs and interests.
Inspector highlights
- Staff provide a nurturing and supportive environment where children thrive.
- Leaders ensure a high-quality, safe learning environment and are actively involved in day-to-day running.
- Leaders place high value on the relationship between the nursery and parents and carers, using feedback for staff training.
- Staff encourage good personal care habits, such as handwashing, starting in the baby room.
- Well-established routines ensure smooth and positive transitions throughout the day, ensuring babies are settled and happy.
Areas to develop
- 1further develop strategies to support children's language and communication so that they have more time to process their thoughts and responses when adults interact with them
- 2support staff to gain a deeper understanding of the intended curriculum so that they consistently provide the right level of support for differently aged children with even greater precision.
Inspection #10412283 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
parents say they are very happy with the nursery and state that their children are making very good progress there.
They particularly praise the friendliness of all members of staff and have found it to be a very supportive nursery.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Leaders spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Outdoor space
Staff carefully plan the indoor and outdoor learning environments to meet the needs and interests of children. Children delight in the positive interactions with staff and friends, such as when painting in the garden.
Inspection history
Date: December 2024
- August 2025Good
- December 2024Outstanding
Frequently asked about Castle Kindergarten
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