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Pre-schools in Barnard Castle

There are 151 pre-schools registered with Ofsted within 25 miles of Barnard Castle, Durham, and 110 of them are rated Good or Outstanding. Compare inspection reports, the ages they take, opening hours and how far they are from you.

Pre-schools
151
Outstanding
17
Good
93
After-school clubs
12

151 nurseries near Barnard Castle

Within 25 miles, closest first.
Distance
Child's age
Ofsted rating

Some settings do not publish age ranges and are excluded by this filter. Select Any age to see them and ask each setting which ages it accepts.

Evenwood, Bishop Auckland

Flowerpots

Randolph Centre, Stones End · DL14 9RE

8.8 miles from Barnard Castle
OfstedGoodJan 2022Full day care38 places

A full day care nursery in Bishop Auckland, rated Good by Ofsted in January 2022. Registered for 38 places and run by Core Care Evenwood Ltd.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bishop Auckland, Durham

Yellow Wellies

9 Kensington, Cockton Hill Road · DL14 6HX

12.8 miles from Barnard Castle
OfstedGoodMar 2023Full day care100 places

A full day care nursery in Bishop Auckland, rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Registered for 100 places and run by Daypark Ltd.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Bishop Auckland, Durham

Buddies Nursery

1 Newton Cap Bank, Bishop Auckland · DL14 7PX

13.1 miles from Barnard Castle
OfstedGoodMay 2023Full day care49 places

A full day care nursery in Bishop Auckland, rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. Registered for 49 places and run by Buddies Nursery Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Shildon, Durham

Shildon Early Years

Children's Centre, Byerley Road · DL4 1HN

13.2 miles from Barnard Castle
Inspected November 2025Full day care28 places

A full day care nursery in Shildon, last inspected by Ofsted in November 2025. Registered for 28 places and run by Durham County Council.

Ages
0 – 5 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Shildon, Durham

Nellie's Day Nursery

Church Street, Shildon · DL4 1DU

13.4 miles from Barnard Castle
Inspected January 2026Full day care75 places

A full day care nursery in Shildon, last inspected by Ofsted in January 2026. Registered for 75 places and run by Nellie's Day Nursery Limited.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Crook, Durham

Kidzone

10 Chuch Street, Crook · DL15 9BG

13.5 miles from Barnard Castle
OfstedGoodOct 2024Full day care60 places

A full day care nursery in Crook, rated Good by Ofsted in October 2024. Registered for 60 places and run by Kidzone Durham Ltd.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery
Willington, Durham

Nurserytime

117 Commercial Street, Willington · DL15 0AA

14.7 miles from Barnard Castle
OfstedGoodMay 2023Full day care89 places

A full day care nursery in Willington, rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. Registered for 89 places and run by Nurserytime Ltd.

Ages
0 – 8 years
Hours
Ask the nursery

Childcare in Barnard Castle at a glance

Inspection results
110 of the 151 pre-schools within 25 miles of Barnard Castle (73%) were rated Good or Outstanding at their latest graded Ofsted inspection: 17 Outstanding and 93 Good.
Ages taken
143 list babies under 2, 151 take 2 to 3-year-olds, 151 take 3 to 5-year-olds. Registered age ranges are a guide, so check the room your child would join with each setting.
Funded hours
Working parents apply for funded hours on GOV.UK. For the 15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds, contact Durham's Family Information Service.

Read our guides to choosing a nursery and funded hours

Questions parents ask about pre-schools in Barnard Castle

Straight answers from the Ofsted register, updated as inspections come in.

There are 151 Ofsted-registered pre-schools within 25 miles of Barnard Castle. 17 are rated Outstanding and 93 are rated Good at their latest inspection.