Chilton Meadows Day Nursery

An open-plan interior, gardens and an enclosed outdoor space give Chilton Meadows Day Nursery a clear physical character: children have space indoors and outside, within a family-run setting in Chilton Moor. It accepts children from birth to five and has 35 places in total. That is whole-nursery capacity, rather than the size of an individual group.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 19 October 2022 and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. The strongest detail from that period concerns everyday care: sharing books with babies, comforting tired children and helping older children work through disagreements. These are useful examples of how staff interacted with children, rather than just a list of grades.

For working families, opening hours run from 7am to 6pm on weekdays, across the year except bank holidays.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning, development and care, so the nursery day encompasses children's different areas of learning rather than concentrating solely on preparation for school. Chilton Meadows gives equal emphasis to those areas. Its open-plan indoor layout and garden space provide the physical setting for that approach.

In October 2022, books and rhymes featured across ages. Babies shared books while sitting with staff; toddlers listened to stories animated by changes of voice and gestures, with singing drawing other children into the activity. The examples connect early communication with close adult attention. Reading was a shared experience.

Listening also had a practical dimension in October 2022. Toddlers tried passing a bell around a circle while keeping it silent, an activity requiring patience and concentration. Outside, older children gathered leaves for a Halloween potion. These examples show learning taking place through small, tangible challenges rather than through formal lessons.

Outdoor and Community Life

Gardens sit alongside the enclosed outdoor area, giving outdoor activity a substantial place in the nursery's physical layout. The open-plan interior is a practical consideration for families comparing nursery layouts.

Our Sustainability Pledge sets out an intention to bring UNESCO’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into everyday practice. It is a statement of direction: connecting early childhood experiences with environmental responsibility and care for living things. The practical value for parents is the opportunity to discuss how those intentions translate into activities children actually encounter.

Relationships and Communication

In October 2022, staff responded to tired or distressed children with physical comfort and reassurance. Babies were helped to settle to sleep, while toddlers could receive a cuddle or a comforter. The detail matters for families of younger children: care involved noticing changes in a child's mood and responding individually.

Parent contact in October 2022 included conversations at collection and drop-off, stay-and-play opportunities and activity packs for home. Those arrangements gave families ways to take part in learning beyond nursery attendance. However, staff needed to gather richer information about children's interests outside nursery, because some activities did not fully hold children's attention.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received good support through a special educational needs coordinator working with health professionals and staff on individual learning targets. That finding gives a concrete account of the support mechanism at that time, rather than a general promise about inclusion.

Health learning in October 2022 included toothbrushes and toothpaste for children, practising toothbrushing on a puppet and discussions with parents about dentists and healthy packed lunches. Children also practised handwashing before food and safe use of tools during play. These were everyday habits taught through participation.

Behaviour support in October 2022 combined clear boundaries with discussion. Younger children were reminded about safe play around the outdoor sand tray; older children were helped to consider another child's feelings and resolve disagreements. Staff development needed attention too: key points from training and meetings were not consistently understood and put into practice.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 6LX. Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round opening except bank holidays. That broad opening window is useful for families fitting childcare around work.

The contact form provides an enquiry route and access to a downloadable prospectus. Families can also contact the nursery by email or telephone, and a Book a Visit option provides a route to arranging a visit.

Getting There

An on-site car park supports collection and drop-off by car. This is a practical advantage for families transporting young children and their belongings.

• Planning around your child. In October 2022, staff needed more detailed information about children's home interests, and training messages needed more consistent application. During a visit, ask how family information now shapes activities and how changes in staff practice are followed through.
• The indoor layout. Children use an open-plan interior alongside gardens and an enclosed outdoor area. A visit can help you judge how quieter activity, sleep and busier play are organised for your child's age.
• Funding and the full cost. In October 2022, funded early education covered two-, three- and four-year-olds. What funded attendance arrangements apply now, and how are meals, non-food consumables and additional private hours handled in the current written quotation?

Chilton Meadows suits families looking for childcare from babyhood through the preschool years, with year-round weekday opening and substantial outdoor space. Its open-plan layout will also matter to parents comparing different nursery environments.

The October 2022 picture combines attentive everyday care, shared stories and practical learning with clear improvement priorities around parent information and staff training. Those priorities deserve a direct conversation. The most useful choice is one grounded in how the nursery's space and daily organisation fit your child.