# Kids 1st - Darlington

Kids 1st - Darlington is a full-day nursery at Alderman Leach Drive, Darlington, DL2 2GF, in Faverdale, Darlington. It is registered for 108 children. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in June 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 13 reviews (October 2026). It is run by Busy Bees Nurseries Limited.

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/kids-1st-darlington-ey364039  
Last checked 31 October 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Full-day nursery
- Address: Alderman Leach Drive, Darlington, DL2 2GF
- Registered places: 108
- Phone: 01325 380199
- Website: https://www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/nursery/darlington-kids1st
- Run by: [Busy Bees Nurseries Limited](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/busy-bees-nurseries-limited)
- Ofsted URN: EY364039

## Ofsted and official records

Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 3 June 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

- Quality of education: Good
- Behaviour and attitudes: Good
- Personal development: Good
- Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective.

Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY364039

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since December 2007 (Reference EY364039). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY364039)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 3 June 2025). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY364039)
- Registered places: 108 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY364039)
- Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 8 October 2025). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/232672)

## Fees

Fees, hours and ages: not published yet.

## Hours and ages

Opening hours and ages: not published yet.

## Getting there

Address: Alderman Leach Drive, Darlington, DL2 2GF

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=54.546524,-1.586433

- 2 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: West Park, under 0.1 miles
- Park: Cow Green Park, 0.3 miles
- Park: The Haven, 0.3 miles
- Playground: Playground, under 0.1 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.4 miles

NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026 · © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

In Darlington there are about 3.8 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings

- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 13 reviews (as of 31 October 2026)

## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Park Academy | Primary | 2–11 | School remains Good (March 2024) | yes | under 0.1 miles |
| Mount Pleasant Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Good (September 2022) | yes | 0.5 miles |
| Holy Family Catholic Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (October 2023) | yes | 0.8 miles |
| St Mary's Cockerton Church of England Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Good (February 2023) | yes | 0.8 miles |
| Marchbank Free School |  | 5–11 | Good (January 2024) |  | 1.0 miles |
| Mowden Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | Report card (June 2026) |  | 1.2 miles |
| Mowden Infant School | Primary | 5–7 | School remains Good (January 2023) |  | 1.2 miles |
| Reid Street Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (April 2022) | yes | 1.3 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Busy Bees Day Nursery at Darlington](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/busy-bees-day-nursery-at-darlington-301131) | Good |  |  | 0.8 miles |
| [Kids Planet Darlington](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/kids-planet-darlington-2838554) |  |  |  | 1.1 miles |
| [Pierremont Pre-School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/pierremont-pre-school-301170) | Good |  |  | 1.2 miles |
| [Mowden Pre-School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/mowden-pre-school-301168) | Good |  |  | 1.2 miles |
| [Danesmoor House Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/danesmoor-house-day-nursery-ey442381) | Good |  |  | 1.5 miles |
| [Upperthorpe Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/upperthorpe-nursery-ey482638) | Good |  |  | 1.5 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Kids 1st - Darlington's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Kids 1st - Darlington Good at its inspection on 3 June 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

### How many children can Kids 1st - Darlington take?

Kids 1st - Darlington is registered with Ofsted for up to 108 children at any one time.

### Who runs Kids 1st - Darlington?

Kids 1st - Darlington is run by Busy Bees Nurseries Limited, which runs 300 nurseries.

### What is the nearest station to Kids 1st - Darlington?

North Road is the nearest station we know of, 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

### How do I contact Kids 1st - Darlington?

You can call 01325 380199 and visit www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY364039)
- Rating and review themes: Google, as of 31 October 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Kids+1st+-+Darlington&query_place_id=ChIJ8eFf04WbfkgRDJRuku4jpXA)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.