Nurseries in Durham Region
The wider Durham region in North East England combines historic cathedral city living, former mining towns, coastal communities and modern new-build estates. It typically refers to County Durham alongside nearby unitary areas such as Darlington, Hartlepool and surrounding commuter settlements. Key population centres include Durham City, Darlington, Hartlepool, Bishop Auckland, Peterlee, Newton Aycliffe, Seaham, Consett, Chester-le-Street and Stanley. Families benefit from rail links via the East Coast Main Line to Newcastle, York, Leeds, Edinburgh and London, as well as the A1(M), A19 and good bus networks across the Tyne–Tees corridor. The area offers coastline, countryside, parks, soft play, libraries, family hubs and strong primary school options. Nursery and preschool demand is consistently high in commuter belts towards Newcastle, Sunderland and Teesside, as well as in growing estates around Durham City, Darlington and Newton Aycliffe where new housing is being delivered.
Parents in Durham Region typically pay £76 per day for childcare, which is slightly 1% higher than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £76
- Comparison
- +1% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 7,939 places
Nurseries near you in Durham Region
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Durham region, private nurseries typically accept children from around 3 months old, depending on staffing and availability. School and council nurseries usually offer places from age 2 or 3. Funded early education begins the term after your child turns 3, with some 2 year olds eligible earlier depending on circumstances or work status.
Across England all 3 and 4 year olds receive 15 funded hours per week with many working families eligible for up to 30 hours. Some 2 year olds also qualify based on household circumstances, and eligible working parents of children from 9 months old may access funded childcare. Tax Free Childcare provides a 20 percent government top up to help with nursery costs.
Nursery fees across the Durham region generally range from £55–£105 per day, with higher rates in and around Durham City and Darlington, and more moderate fees in former mining towns and coastal communities such as Peterlee, Seaham and Hartlepool.
All nurseries in the Durham region are regulated by Ofsted. Early years funding within County Durham is overseen by Durham County Council, with neighbouring unitary authorities such as Darlington Borough Council and Hartlepool Borough Council managing local funding arrangements in their areas.
Ask about outdoor play spaces, trips to local parks or woodland, how the setting supports children’s speech, language and social skills, staffing levels and key person arrangements, how funded hours are delivered, and any additional charges for meals, nappies, snacks, activities or extended care.
Applying for funding
Durham Region is covered by Durham County Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Durham County Council website
