Nurseries and Childcare in Cramlington

Cramlington has a good choice of early years settings: full day nurseries open from early morning to 6pm, a pre-school on a primary school site, and nursery classes in primary schools. This guide covers six of them, with Ofsted results and opening hours, plus government-funded hours and finding a childminder.

Details come from each setting's own website or Ofsted record. Places for babies fill quickly, so get in touch early.

Little Angels Fun Club and Nursery

Little Angels on Paradise Row has been registered with Ofsted since 1999, the longest of the day nurseries in this guide. It takes children from birth to four and opens from 7am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. It offers government-funded places.

Ofsted rated it Outstanding in every area after its inspection in June 2025, up from Good in 2020. The same company opened Little Angels at Hareside in October 2025, which had not been inspected at the time of writing. Phone 01670 737274.

Best for: Rated Outstanding across the board in 2025, with long days for working parents.

Kids Planet Southfield

Kids Planet Southfield is on Sandersons Terrace, NE23 6XD. Part of the Kids Planet group, it opened in 2023 and is open from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, for children from birth to four. Its website lists an outdoor classroom, freshly prepared meals and a parent app.

Ofsted rated it Outstanding in every area in December 2024. Phone 0191 250 2221.

Best for: Outstanding in every area, and open 7am to 6pm for the longest day in this guide.

Dinotots Cramlington

Dinotots Cramlington is at Dewley, NE23 6DT, with 75 places for children from birth to four. It opens all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 5.30pm on Friday, and offers government-funded places.

The nursery was judged Inadequate in June 2025, but a re-inspection in September 2025 rated it Good in every area. Phone 01670 363650.

Best for: Read both 2025 reports, then visit to see the setting for yourself.

Two Little Dickie Birds and St Paul's Pre-School

Two Little Dickie Birds runs on the site of Ss Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary Academy on Northumbrian Road. St Paul's Pre-School takes three and four-year-olds, and Two Little Dickie Birds adds care for under-threes and wraparound care for pre-school children. Ofsted's report gives opening hours of 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks a year.

Its website lists funded places for two-year-olds and 15 or 30 hours for eligible three and four-year-olds. Ofsted rated it Good in every area in February 2025. Phone 07811 973027.

Best for: Pre-school for three and four-year-olds, with all-day care for younger children on the same site.

Nursery at Eastlea Primary School

Eastlea Primary School on Skipton Close in Northburn Lea has a 39-place nursery. Children start in the term after their third birthday. The standard offer is 15 hours a week in morning sessions (afternoons for some younger intakes), and eligible parents can ask for 30 hours as full days.

Applications go straight to the school and are dealt with in the order they arrive, so apply early. An Ofsted inspection in January 2025 found the school had kept its Good standards. Phone 01670 732261.

Best for: Apply early: nursery places are allocated in the order forms come in.

The Nest at Cramlington Village Primary

Cramlington Village Primary School on Bowmont Drive has 26 nursery places and The Nest, a newer room for two-year-olds. The school's website says it offers flexible funded hours between 7.30am and 6pm.

The school was inspected in September 2026 under Ofsted's new report card format, which grades each area on a five-point scale instead of a single overall grade. It was rated Expected standard in every area, including early years, and its safeguarding met the standards. Phone 01670 735177.

Best for: A school-based option for two-year-olds as well as three and four-year-olds.

Government-funded hours

According to GOV.UK and the government's Best Start in Life website:

• All three and four-year-olds in England get 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.
• Working families can get 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year for children aged nine months to four. You usually need to expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum or Living Wage, and you cannot claim if you or your partner has an adjusted net income over £100,000. You must reconfirm your details every three months.
• Some two-year-olds get 15 hours of early learning a week if the family gets extra support, such as Universal Credit.

Each setting decides how it offers funded hours and may charge for meals or extra time, so ask about this when you visit. The Childcare Checker on Best Start in Life shows what you could get.

Finding a childminder

Registered childminders look after small groups of children in their own homes. Northumberland County Council's Families Information Service (0345 600 6400) runs the Family Services Childcare Directory, which lists Ofsted-registered providers, and you can check any childminder's reports on the Ofsted website.

Tips for choosing a setting

• Visit first. Ask for a look round to judge the rooms, outdoor space and staff.
• Join waiting lists early, especially for babies, five-day weeks and popular school nurseries.
• Check Ofsted. Read the latest report in full, and look at the provider's Ofsted page for any later compliance notices.
• Ask the practical questions: fees beyond funded hours, meals, holiday closures and how settling-in works.

For more on family life in the town, see our families hub, the guide to baby and toddler groups and our moving to Cramlington guide, or browse the directory.

Spotted a change? Get in touch and we'll update the guide.