Term time / All Year
All Year
Kids 1st - Durham
Ofsted: Good
(Jun 2025)
Number of places
110 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2025
Local authority
Durham
About this day nursery
30 am to 6 pm. The nursery was established in 2006 and received a "Good" rating in its latest Ofsted inspection on 18th June 2025.
Children are warmly greeted by caring and supportive staff, who are particularly attentive to new children and those needing help to settle, providing cuddles, reassurance, and consistent routines to promote emotional well-being. The curriculum is ambitious and tailored to individual interests, with staff working with parents to understand children's existing knowledge and skills upon entry.
Children benefit from an extensive outdoor area, engaging in meaningful learning and physical activity, developing gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. The nursery also focuses on children's growing independence in self-care and personal hygiene.
Through visitors like police and fire brigade personnel, and visits to local care homes, children learn about their community and the wider world, including environmental responsibility through litter picking and recycling. Language development is a key focus, with staff singing to babies and encouraging a love of books across all age groups through "book nooks" and shared reading experiences.
The nursery ensures timely completion of the progress check at age two, identifying any developmental delays and sharing these with parents. Parents commend the leadership team as "particularly impressive" and the staff as "extremely approachable and dedicated," highlighting the strong partnerships between the nursery and families.
The nursery also prioritises continued professional development for its highly qualified staff, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment with high morale and effective teamwork.
What it's like
Children thrive in this warm, nurturing and exciting setting. They are warmly greeted by caring, supportive staff, who are very attentive and responsive, especially to new children and those that need help to settle into their day. Staff provide cuddles, reassurance and consistent routines, which helps children to settle, feel secure and promotes their emotional well-being.
Warm, nurturing and excitingExtensive outdoor areaStrong parent partnershipsGood language developmentFocus on independenceCommunity engagement with community
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Kids 1st - Durham
Last inspected 18 June 2025
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Children thrive in this warm, nurturing and exciting setting. They are warmly greeted by caring, supportive staff, who are very attentive and responsive, especially to new children and those that need help to settle into their day. Staff provide cuddles, reassurance and consistent routines, which helps children to settle, feel secure and promotes their emotional well-being.
Inspector highlights
- Children show growing independence in their self-care and manage personal hygiene.
- Children have many opportunities to learn about their community through visitors and visits to local care homes.
- Opportunities for language development are good, with staff singing and children encouraged to develop a love of books.
- Staff know the children well and plan activities to support their learning, building on existing knowledge and skills.
- Partnerships with parents are very strong, and parents feel well informed and appreciate the care and attention staff provide.
Areas to develop
- 1embed and monitor children's next steps within day-to-day planning, to help support children to make rapid progress
- 2make clear in the written progress check for children aged two, what staff intend to do to support children's next steps in their learning.
Inspection #10392888 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
the leadership team are 'particularly impressive'
staff team are 'extremely approachable and dedicated'
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff ensure the progress check at age two is completed in a timely way. A summary of children's development is recorded and any delays in development are identified at this stage. Staff share these with parents.
Outdoor space
Children benefit from the extensive outdoor area and engage in meaningful learning. Staff set resources to encourage children to be physically active in a range of ways, helping to develop their gross motor skills, balance and coordination.
Parent Reviews of Kids 1st - Durham
5.0
(15)
Bethany Malyan - Fisher
11 months ago
I wanted to take a moment to express just how happy we are with the care our child receives at your nursery. From the moment we walk in, we are greeted with such warmth, and it's clear that all of the staff members are genuinely friendly and dedicated to the children. The nursery itself is a truly lovely environment, and our child always talks excitedly about their day there. Knowing that they are in such a caring and positive space makes a huge difference to us as parents. We wholeheartedly recommend Kids 1st Durham to any family looking for exceptional childcare. Thank you all for everything you do!
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Jade Turnbull
10 months ago
Jodie and the team are great! The facilities are clean and calm. Team members are friendly and knowledgeable. Management is hands on yet professional. Finance team are on the ball! We are a few months into our childcare journey, keep up the great work guys.
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Oyetope Giwa
a year ago
The nursery has been a God send. My lil one absolutely loves going in every morning. Their ladies are supportive with his additional needs and it’s great to be able to have peace of mind while at work.
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Paul Whillis
2 years ago
What a wonderful place! There are several good and great nurseries in Durham, and Kids 1st is the best we’ve found. The staff seem unfailingly cheerful, welcoming, caring and helpful, and they’ve gone above and beyond to nurture and care for my daughter. Most days she’s having such fun that she doesn’t want to leave. A gem of a place, in our experience. Thank you!
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Jojo Hall
a year ago
Extremely happy with the outstanding care my family have received
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Kids 1st - Durham. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: November 2009
- June 2025Good
- October 2019Good
- October 2014Outstanding
- November 2009Outstanding
Frequently asked about Kids 1st - Durham
About the setting
Kids 1st – Durham registered in 2006. The nursery employs 43 members of childcare staff, of whom 37 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.
- URN
- EY334642
- Registered person
- Busy Bees Nurseries Limited
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
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