Castle Nurseries at Montagu

Baby care has a clear place in Montagu’s character: three play rooms, a shared play space and outdoor areas with free-flow access give its youngest children room to explore. Castle Nurseries at Montagu serves children from three months to five years in Cowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, with capacity for 49 children. Its emphasis on under-twos makes the arrangements for early movement and exploration a useful starting point for parents choosing care for a baby.

At its December 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. The practical detail behind that judgement included indoor climbing, songs, books to borrow and outdoor riding toys. There were also two clear priorities: more independence for older children and more opportunities to practise counting.

The nursery opens during term time, from 8am to 6pm. That calendar matters as much as the daily opening window for families planning regular childcare.

Rooms and Ages

Three play rooms sit alongside a large communal play area. Spaces for babies and children under two are designed for exploration, while two-year-olds and preschool children have their own play provision. The outdoor areas allow free-flow play, making outside activity part of the nursery’s physical layout rather than a separate destination.

In December 2024, babies used small indoor climbing equipment, while toddlers practised climbing and sliding on a ramp. These were concrete opportunities to try movements, repeat them and build confidence. Older children used scissors, giving them practice with the hand movements needed for cutting. The activities differed by stage rather than treating the whole nursery as one group.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage brings children’s learning, development and care together: here, its daily expression includes learning through play, conversation, stories and movement. In December 2024, block-building prompted discussion about position and height, and staff introduced colours and shapes during play. Counting received less attention. That distinction matters: a busy play session can offer plenty of language while still missing chances to practise number skills.

Songs gave children another way to participate. During December 2024, older children selected nursery rhymes and joined in with actions, while younger children responded physically to staff singing. Books connected with children’s interests and experiences, and a lending library let families borrow reading material for home. It provided a practical bridge between nursery activities and shared reading beyond the nursery day.

Creative work also had an independence lesson attached. In December 2024, children made snowmen using paper, cotton wool and glitter, talking about what they were doing. However, they sometimes needed to request extra materials and wait for an adult to supply them. The next step was to give older children greater control over their choices and the completion of their work.

Outdoor and Community Life

Large outdoor play areas are part of the current offer. In December 2024, older children rode scooters and trikes, steering around the available space, and staff organised ring games that encouraged children to join one another. This added sustained movement and shared play to the indoor activities. Outdoor time was regular at that visit; it was not confined to a single special activity.

Relationships and Communication

In December 2024, staff responded attentively to children and helped them understand changes in the daily routine. Advance reminders gave children time to prepare for the next activity. Adults also demonstrated sharing and turn-taking, helping children practise those habits during play rather than relying only on instructions.

Communication with families included updates about children’s activities and learning in December 2024. The lending library added something families could use together at home, rather than making communication solely an account of what had happened during the day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the December 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language well, working with families and professionals on targets and preparing formal plans for the next stage where needed. This is useful evidence of how support operated at that visit: recognising a concern was followed by planning and collaboration.

The team comprised 14 childcare staff in December 2024. Leaders used supervision, staff meetings and tailored training to support their work. Daily premises checks and security arrangements were also part of practice at that time. These are dated details of the nursery’s organisation, rather than a statement about today’s staffing deployment.

Sessions and Attendance

Montagu’s opening hours are 8am to 6pm during term time. For parents whose working calendar continues through school holidays, the term-time pattern is a substantial planning consideration.

Getting There

The nursery is on Houghton Avenue, Cowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 3UT. Direct enquiries can be made by telephone on 0191 2771783.

Funding and Paid Extras

In December 2024, the nursery offered government-funded childcare and received additional funding for disadvantaged children. Families comparing a funded arrangement with paid childcare should obtain a current written quotation covering their proposed attendance and any associated charges.

• Term-time calendar. Montagu opens during term time. Match that pattern against your household’s holiday-care needs before choosing it.
• Independence and counting. December 2024 priorities concerned access to creative materials and opportunities to count. During a visit, ask how older children now choose resources themselves and practise number skills within everyday play.
• Funding and the complete arrangement. Funded childcare formed part of provision in December 2024. Ask which entitlements and attendance arrangements apply now, and how meals, snacks and consumables fit into the written quotation.

Montagu suits families seeking term-time nursery care, with a clear emphasis on babies and under-twos and space for children to continue into their preschool years. Its three play rooms, communal area and free-flow outdoor provision give parents concrete features to assess. The December 2024 Good judgement is balanced by specific priorities around counting and older children’s independence. Those priorities make a visit more useful: look at how children use the spaces, choose materials and take part in everyday learning.