From
£77/day
Mains House Nursery
West Lane, Chester le Street, County Durham, DH3 3HL, United Kingdom
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 36 Limited spaces
County childcare guide
Nurseries & Daycare in Durham
Toddle lists 10 day nurseries across County Durham, with the most in Durham City, and more in Chester le Street, Seaham, Bowburn and Consett. 3 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted, among them Mains House Nursery, and 7 Good.
All 10 take babies (the most around Seaham and Chester le Street) and are open all year round, and 9 accept the 30 funded hours for working parents.
Durham County Council runs funded childcare and early years SEND support across the county. Ask Doddle above about nurseries near Seaham and Chester le Street, or pick a town below.
How much is nursery in Durham, and where are they?
10 take babies from 6 months. All 10 are open all year round rather than term time only.Checked 26 Oct 2026
Source: Ofsted inspection reports and the fees and details each nursery publishes.
Childcare numbers for Durham
Daily fees range
Per day
£49–£79
Outstanding nurseries
30% of nurseries
3
Funded childcare
90% offer funding
9
Total nurseries
Across Durham
10
Chat with Doddle
Find a nursery in Durham with Doddle
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Top nurseries
View all Best nurseries in Durham
Showing 1–3 of 10 selected nursery listings · 10 total in this area.
Area avg from
£79/day*
Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Belmont)
New Ferens Park, Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham, DH1 1GG, United Kingdom
Play-Based Capacity 122 Spaces available
Area avg from
£79/day*
Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)
Durham Road, Bowburn South Industrial Estate, Bowburn, Durham, DH6 5AT, United Kingdom
Play-Based Capacity 108 Spaces available
From
£79/day
Adventure Valley Day Nursery & Pre-School
Adventure Valley Day Nursery & Pre-School, Union Hall Farm, Brasside, Durham, DH1 5SG, United Kingdom
Play-Based Capacity 86 Waiting list
From
£49/day
The Montessori People Thornaby
Thornaby Family Hub, Tedder Avenue, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 9JP, United Kingdom
Montessori Capacity 120 Spaces available
From
£55/day
Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-school Seaham
North Terrace, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7EU, United Kingdom
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 65 Limited spaces
Area avg from
£79/day*
Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd Nursery
Priory Road, Newton Hall, Durham, DH1 5HW, United Kingdom
Play-Based Capacity 169 Limited spaces
Area avg from
£79/day*
Kids Planet Durham
Units 5/6 City West Business Park, St John's Road, Meadowfield Industrial Estate, Durham, DH7 8ER, United Kingdom
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 74 Spaces available
Area avg from
£66/day*
Shotley Bridge Nursery School Ltd
36-38 Derwent Street, Blackhill, Consett, County Durham, DH8 8LY, United Kingdom
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Capacity 98 Spaces available
Area avg from
£79/day*
Woodlands Day Nursery
2 Artemis Court, St Johns Road, Meadowfield, Durham, DH7 8XQ, United Kingdom
Play-Based Capacity 72 Waiting list
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Types of childcare
Types of nursery in Durham
Looking for a baby nursery, a private day nursery or a pre-school near you in Durham? Here is how many of each we list, from the 10 nurseries on this page. Ask Doddle above for the ones that suit your child.
- 10Baby nurseriesTake babies, usually from 6 months
- 10Day nurseries open all yearFull days, all year round, for working parents
- 1Montessori nurseriesChild-led Montessori approach
- 3Rated OutstandingOfsted's top grade
- 9Offer funded hours15 or 30 funded hours
Map view
Map every nursery in Durham Nurseries near Durham
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Nursery cost calculator
How to Calculate Nursery Fee in Durham?
Get a quick estimate of what childcare could cost your family each week and month in Durham.
1
Your childcare week
Set the schedule you need.
2
Child and daily fee
Your local average, matched to their age.
Durham average
£65/day
3
Likely support
Choose the support you expect to use.
Before support
£845
per month
Likely support
£0
per month
You pay
£845
per month
Estimated cost in Durham
£195/week
· £10140/year
Based on the area average of £65/day
Estimates based on average UK nursery rates (Coram Childcare Survey 2024). Actual fees vary by provider and registration costs.
Funded childcare guide
How to Apply for Funded Childcare in Durham?
The nursery postcode districts represented on this page map to these official local authorities. Choose your council below; your home postcode determines which one handles your application.
Visit Durham County CouncilPostcodes: DH1–DH8 · SR7
Visit Stockton-on-Tees Borough CouncilPostcodes: TS17
Helpful answers
Nursery questions in Durham
What are the best nurseries in Durham?
Going by Ofsted, 3 nurseries we list in Durham are rated Outstanding: Mains House Nursery (Chester le Street), Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Belmont) and Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn) (Bowburn).
How many nurseries are there in Durham?
We list 10 nurseries in Durham so far, spread over 7 postcode districts, with the biggest groups in Seaham, Chester le Street, Bowburn and Consett.
Which Durham nurseries take babies?
All 10 take babies, usually from around 6 months, and Seaham and Chester le Street have the most baby places we list. Every one we list in Durham does, including Woodlands Day Nursery and Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-school Seaham.
Are Durham nurseries open all year round?
All 10 we list in Durham open all year round. For early drop-offs or late pick-ups, the nurseries with extended hours are mostly around Seaham and Chester le Street.
Does being eligible for funded hours guarantee a nursery place?
No. Eligibility gives your child access to funded childcare, but it does not guarantee a place at a particular Durham nursery or on your preferred days. Settings can have waiting lists and their own available session patterns.
Can I split funded hours between different childcare providers?
Yes. Families can use their entitlement with more than one eligible provider, for example by combining nursery sessions with a childminder, provided the total funded hours remain within the entitlement.
What extra nursery costs might I still have to pay?
Providers may charge separately for meals, nappies, additional private hours or optional activities. These charges should be clearly separated from the funded childcare entitlement and should not operate as a compulsory top up fee.
What additional support is available if my child has SEND?
Durham has early years SEND and inclusion support for children who need additional help within their setting. Eligible children receiving Disability Living Allowance and accessing funded early education can also attract £975 a year in Disability Access Fund during 2026 to 2027 for their nominated provider.
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