Mains House Nursery

An allotment, a shared garden and preschool swimming give Mains House Nursery a practical, hands-on character. Growing food sits alongside play, stories and opportunities to become more independent. At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found consistently strong teaching across its areas of learning.

Based on West Lane in Chester-le-Street, the nursery has 36 places in total, with a current age range of 38 to 60 months. Its room arrangements also include provision designed for younger children, so age and room fit deserve attention before booking. Full days, five-hour half days and flexible hours give families different attendance options.

Rooms and Ages

Caterpillars & Butterflies groups the youngest children, aged 0-2 years, with the Caterpillars room taking six children each day and providing a sensory den, furniture within children's reach and a comfortable area for rest and stories.

Ladybirds, for ages 2-3 years, emphasises imaginative play through its home corner, small-world resources and creative activities, with equipment positioned for children to choose independently.

Bumble Bees, for children aged three and above, uses two upstairs preschool rooms, combining investigation materials, construction and digital equipment with activities in language, early mathematics and phonics, while accessible sinks and toilets support independence.

Younger children follow home routines; preschool introduces adaptable structure. The shared garden lets siblings spend time together and children get to know staff and children from other rooms before moving.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for learning, development and care: children learn through play, with activities supporting language, movement, relationships, early reading and mathematics, creativity and understanding their surroundings. Planning responds to children's interests, and progress is shared through an online journal. The curriculum information connects those activities with the key person's observations and daily feedback.

Forest School adds outdoor learning through sessions at the allotment. Story Shakers is another curriculum activity, taking place every other Thursday afternoon. Both form part of the normal curriculum without an extra charge on funded days. Wednesday swimming is different: it is an optional preschool activity with a separate charge, except for children receiving EYPP.

In May 2023, learning included making a wormery, watching ducklings hatch and using tools to help construct planting containers. Children grew vegetables and explored how produce reached shops through visits to a supermarket and greengrocer. These experiences linked living things, food and practical work rather than treating them as disconnected topics.

Sensory exploration was equally concrete in May 2023. Children experimented with paint and rice, made dough and added natural materials to their creations. Pretend tea-making used herbs, lemons and actual tea leaves. Such activities gave children materials to investigate and choices to make, with imaginative play growing from things they could handle.

Outdoor and Community Life

Dens, a water area, building blocks and tyres make the garden a place for constructing and experimenting. A sheltered area with cushions provides a quieter option, and waterproof clothing supports outdoor play across the nursery's age groups.

Allotment visits include growing vegetables. Regular local outings also take children to parks, the library, the post office, banks and the train station, bringing everyday places into their learning. Preschool visitors during the year include emergency-service workers and farmers with animals. These encounters give children concrete examples of work and community life beyond nursery.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person responsible for their daily care, wellbeing and development. Families share routines and personal information through an All About Me section on the parent app. That gives staff a starting point for understanding the child rather than expecting every family to fit the same routine.

Settling begins with introductory visits involving the family and key person. A later visit gives the child time to play while their parent leaves, and further settling visits can be added when helpful.

Daily feedback accompanies collection, while children under two have an individual diary sent home each day. Parents can contribute information about current interests and experiences at home, and there are opportunities for fuller conversations about development. A bimonthly newsletter and the family notice board provide another route for nursery updates.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding and strong support for children with special educational needs or disabilities, including coordinated work with education and health professionals. Current arrangements include SENCO roles, additional training for individual needs, designated safeguarding leads and a child-protection policy. These are practical mechanisms for discussing support with families.

In May 2023, children practised everyday independence by serving food with tongs and washing their hands. Staff also helped them consider risks when using tools and riding bikes on slopes. Care extended into learning how to manage ordinary tasks safely, with adults supporting those decisions.

Fresh meals are cooked on site, menus rotate over three weeks, and special diets are accommodated where possible. Private full-day fees include breakfast, snacks, lunch and tea; funded-session food charges and the packed-lunch alternative are explained below.

School preparation combines preschool routines with learning in communication, social skills and early literacy and mathematics. In May 2023, staff shared detailed information with local schools to support children's next stage. That was transition support, rather than a named admissions pathway.

Sessions and Attendance

Full Day sessions run from 7.30am to 6pm. A five-hour Half Day Session is also offered, alongside flexible hours intended to accommodate differing work patterns.

Eligible children from nine months can take funded sessions as three full days during term time or two full days spread across the year. The nursery opens Monday to Friday throughout the year, closing on bank holidays and for a week at Christmas.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0191 388 9048, by email at info@mainshousenursery.co.uk or through the contact form. The address is West Lane, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3HL.

Getting There

Families can use the nursery drive, reached through West Lane's one-way system, and there is a neighbouring pay-and-display car park. A small buggy store allows pushchairs to remain during the day at the owner's risk, useful for families making the journey on foot.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and paid sessions are both offered. The nursery accepts government funding, with term-time and stretched arrangements for eligible children from nine months. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees information explains how funded attendance and extras are separated.

On funded days, meals and snacks are charged separately unless the child receives EYPP, when they are free; families who do not qualify and prefer to avoid the food charge may provide food under the packed-lunch policy. Funded days carry no extra charge for consumables, Forest School or Story Shakers, and the additional half-hour between 7.30am and 8am is also uncharged.

Optional Wednesday preschool swimming carries a separate charge because of pool hire. For children receiving EYPP, those lessons are free even when Wednesday is not one of their usual nursery days.

• Age and room fit. The current age range is 38 to 60 months, alongside rooms designed for younger children. For a younger child, ask which provision and room any proposed booking would cover.
• Funded attendance and food. Term-time funding uses three full days, while stretched funding uses two across the year. Compare the calendar and food arrangements, including the EYPP exemption or packed-lunch option, with your family's needs.
• Outdoor mixing and preschool space. Children share the garden, and Bumble Bees uses upstairs rooms. During a visit, discuss how these arrangements would work for your child's mobility, routines and preferred activities.
• Dietary needs. Special diets are accommodated where possible. Allergy-affected families should confirm current kitchen practice and agree suitable arrangements before attendance begins.

Mains House Nursery suits families seeking practical outdoor experiences, interest-led play and continuity through a key person. The allotment, shared garden and regular community outings give that offer substance. Its Outstanding May 2023 judgement provides a strong dated assessment, while current communication and curriculum arrangements give parents concrete ways to follow their child's development.

Full days and five-hour half days serve different working patterns, with flexible hours adding another option. Eligible families also have a choice between term-time and stretched funded attendance. Age and room fit, calendar needs and food charges are the decisions to settle alongside the appeal of its hands-on nursery day.