Opening hours
Monday - Friday 7am - 6:30pm
Dawn Till Dusk Childcare
Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2024)
Number of places
21 places
Age range
0–2 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2024
Local authority
Durham
About this day nursery
Dawn to Dusk Day Nursery in Maidstone provides a nurturing "home from home" environment for children, established since 1996 with a consistent reputation for high-quality care. The day nursery prides itself on maintaining an "Ofsted Good" rating and employs highly qualified early years professionals with degrees in Early Years Studies.
They welcome children in rooms designed specifically for different age groups, featuring stimulating areas and high-standard equipment for learning and play, alongside quiet spaces for rest. The nursery is dedicated to fostering a love for discovery and exploration in children through challenging, age-appropriate activities both indoors and outdoors, all within a safe and caring atmosphere.
Flexible care packages are offered to accommodate individual family needs, and the experienced team prioritises the well-being and development of each child, ensuring parents feel confident and secure in their childcare choice. The facility operates 51 weeks a year, closing only for Christmas and Bank Holidays, making it a reliable option for working families seeking comprehensive childcare solutions.
What it's like
Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery, arriving happy and eager. Staff are nurturing and build strong bonds, making children feel safe and secure. Staff know their key children extremely well and support their development in various ways, such as allowing younger children to move freely while ensuring their safety.
Ofsted Rated "Good"Home from Home EnvironmentExperienced and Qualified StaffFlexible Care Packages
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
Tax-Free Childcare30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
- Full Day (0-3 Years)£84 / day
- Full Day (3-4 Years)£80 / day
- Free Sessional Care (Term Time Only)£0 / session
Key facts
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Dawn Till Dusk Childcare
Last inspected 7 March 2024 · Janet Fairhurst
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery, arriving happy and eager. Staff are nurturing and build strong bonds, making children feel safe and secure. Staff know their key children extremely well and support their development in various ways, such as allowing younger children to move freely while ensuring their safety.
Inspector highlights
- The manager is passionate and ambitious, striving to provide the best start for children with a strong curriculum overview.
- Staff skillfully identify learning gaps through observations and assessments, implementing plans and providing one-to-one support.
- Children's language and communication skills are well-supported through staff interactions, new vocabulary introduction, and a love for books.
- Children learn to count in everyday situations and are introduced to simple mathematical language.
- Children's health and well-being are well-supported, including dietary needs and self-care independence.
Areas to develop
- 1support children more effectively as they develop their perseverance and learn to work things out for themselves.
Inspection #10317068 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents feel that the manager and staff do a 'fantastic job'.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff skilfully use observations and assessments to swiftly identify any gaps in children's learning and development. Staff implement plans closely linked to identified targets and provide one-to-one support when necessary. They work closely with parents and other professionals to access additional support so that children make the best progress from their individual starting points.
Outdoor space
All children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise and have access to a variety of activities that help to develop their physical skills. For example, some children focus on practising their coordination to scoop sand with digger trucks, while others use spoons to fill containers with soil. Younger children reach up high with their brushes to make marks on the easel. They manoeuvre the bikes around the garden path.
Google Reviews of Dawn Till Dusk Childcare
5.0
(7 Google reviews)
Liz Poskett
2 years ago
Our daughter attended here from around 2.5 years onwards. Wish we’d found the nursery earlier! She absolutely loves her days at Dawn till Dusk and has an incredible bond with all of the nursery teachers. The days are really fun and varied, with lots of trips outdoors. She comes home so excited to tell us what she’s done each day and I know she’s safe and happy there. Couldn’t recommend them more.
Read on Google
Stephanie
2 years ago
I cannot thank or recommend this nursery highly enough. Every member of the team is incredibly friendly and caring. Our toddler really enjoys their time at Nursery - they literally run in! Communication is excellent. We get updates in their book daily and a verbal update when we collect. The nursery runs excellent activities and we love receiving the photos! Thank you for everything you do Dawn till Dusk!
Read on Google
Natalie Mitchell
2 years ago
Dawn Till Dusk are so much more than a nursery! The staff are not only professional and experienced but genuinely caring. Our child has loved attending and has grown so much both socially and educationally. I cannot recommend Dawn Till Dusk enough for parents looking for a nurturing environment for their children and it is by far the best childcare in Teesdale!
Read on Google
Gillian Anderson
2 years ago
Both of our children have attended Dawn Till Dusk since they were 9 months old, and it has been such a nurturing environment for them. It is a fantastic setting, with the best staff you could wish for. All of the staff take such care to get to know each child individually, meaning they build such great bonds.
Read on Google
Philip Dunn
2 years ago
I can’t recommend this nursery highly enough! Our child has been going here since they were 18 months old. They love it and the staff take huge efforts to tailor the activities to the interests of the individual children. All of the staff are lovely and this shows in the way that the children interact with them. A thoroughly caring and safe environment. Their communication with parents is outstanding, keeping us informed about our child’s progress, activities and milestones.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Dawn Till Dusk Childcare. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: October 2011
- March 2024Good
- May 2018Good
- February 2015Good
- October 2011Outstanding
Frequently asked about Dawn Till Dusk Childcare
Nearby day nurseries in Barnard Castle
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Dawn Till Dusk Childcare.
Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.
Claim listingShare this nursery
Send to a partner, friend or family member.
This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more