Best 3 Nursery schools in County Durham – comparison

Q: How are these comparisons built?

We align public datasets side-by-side. Headline Ofsted judgement and publication date are shown when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; free users see rounded values.

Q: What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded Section 8 visits do not replace the last graded judgement. We continue to show the latest graded judgement until a new graded inspection is published.

Q: Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are Pro features. Everyone can still compare approximate values.

Q: How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then consider distance and travel, roll versus capacity, and the admissions policy. Visit the school, ask about pastoral support and enrichment, and ensure it fits your child’s needs.

Q: What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; review capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and look at trust or local authority governance. Read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding details.

Comparison of nursery schools: Horden Nursery School (Nursery) in Peterlee; Seaham Harbour Nursery School (Nursery) in Seaham; George Dent Nursery School (Nursery) in Darlington — covering Ofsted outcomes, size, FSM%, governance, capacity & more.

At a glance

This page compares Horden Nursery School, Seaham Harbour Nursery School and George Dent Nursery School. They are nursery phase and local authority nursery school type located around Peterlee, County Durham, Seaham, County Durham and Darlington, County Durham. The strongest headline Ofsted judgement here is 1 (Horden Nursery School), published Apr 2015. The most recent inspection on record is for Horden Nursery School (Apr 2015). average roll around ≈ 100, combined total ≈ 350, typical FSM 0–5%; across local authorities including County Durham and Darlington.

🔒 Export (Pro)

Attribute	Horden Nursery School SR8 4TB	Seaham Harbour Nursery School SR7 7NN	George Dent Nursery School DL3 7PY
Phase / Type	Nursery • Local authority nursery school	Nursery • Local authority nursery school	Nursery • Local authority nursery school
Location	Peterlee County Durham SR8 4TB	Seaham County Durham SR7 7NN	Darlington County Durham DL3 7PY
Latest Ofsted	1 20 Apr 2015	1 20 Apr 2015	1 11 Mar 2015
Ofsted report	—	—	—
Pupils (roll)	≈ 100 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 100 🔒 Unlock exact pupils	≈ 100 🔒 Unlock exact pupils
FSM %	0–5% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	0–5% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %	0–5% 🔒 Unlock exact FSM %
Capacity	—	—	—
Capacity utilisation	—	—	—
Age range	—	—	—
Gender	Mixed	Mixed	Mixed
Admissions policy	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
Trust / Local authority	County Durham (840)	County Durham (840)	Darlington (841)
Website	hordennursery.durham.sch.uk	www.seahamharbour.durham.sch.uk	www.darlingtonnurseryschools.org.uk
Telephone	01915865415	01915812829	01325380802
SEN provision	None reported	None reported	None reported
Profile	View profile	View profile	View profile

Horden Nursery School

SR8 4TB

Phase / Type: Nursery • Local authority nursery school
Location: Peterlee
County Durham
SR8 4TB
Ofsted: 1 20 Apr 2015
Pupils: ≈ 100 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 0–5% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: County Durham (840)
Website: hordennursery.durham.sch.uk
Telephone: 01915865415

Seaham Harbour Nursery School

SR7 7NN

Phase / Type: Nursery • Local authority nursery school
Location: Seaham
County Durham
SR7 7NN
Ofsted: 1 20 Apr 2015
Pupils: ≈ 100 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 0–5% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: County Durham (840)
Website: www.seahamharbour.durham.sch.uk
Telephone: 01915812829

George Dent Nursery School

DL3 7PY

Phase / Type: Nursery • Local authority nursery school
Location: Darlington
County Durham
DL3 7PY
Ofsted: 1 11 Mar 2015
Pupils: ≈ 100 🔒 Exact value
FSM %: 0–5% 🔒 Exact %
Trust / LA: Darlington (841)
Website: www.darlingtonnurseryschools.org.uk
Telephone: 01325380802

Map of compared schools

How are these comparisons built?

We line up public school data side-by-side. Ofsted “headline” judgement is shown with the publication date when available. Exact pupil counts and precise FSM% are available to Pro users; everyone sees rounded values.

What if a school has a recent ungraded visit?

Ungraded visits (Section 8) check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but do not replace it. We keep the latest graded judgement as the headline until a new graded inspection is published.

Why can’t I see exact numbers?

To keep the service sustainable, we show approximate pupils and bucketed FSM% to free users. Upgrade to AllSchools Pro to unlock precise figures and exports.

How should I choose a school?

Start with the most recent graded Ofsted judgement, then check whether it aligns with your child’s needs. Look at distance and travel, typical class sizes (roll vs capacity), and the school’s admissions policy. Speak to the school, arrange a visit, and ask about pastoral support and enrichment.

What should I look for when comparing schools?

Compare headline Ofsted and publication dates for recency; check FSM% and local context; scan capacity utilisation (under, near, or over capacity); and review trust/local authority for governance. If available, read the official Ofsted report for curriculum and safeguarding detail.