Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Durham Road, Bowburn South Industrial Estate, Bowburn, Durham DH6 5AT
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10 100 Reviews
  • Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn), Durham
Clever Clogs Day Nursery in Bowburn, Durham is an Oftsed rated outstanding (April 2023) nursery in the North East of England.

Situated just off junction 61 of the A1 near Durham Services, the nursery offers 94 nursery childcare places for 0-5-year-olds and out of school places, including before and after-school and holiday club care, for children of school age up to the age of 11.

This spacious nursery is divided into rooms which follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, enabling the children to progress smoothly from room to room as they develop their learning.

Care Provided by Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Sharon Lewis (Operational Director/Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 22
  • Total Places for Children
  • 108
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 2 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays

Funding & Fees Guide for Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

  • Please contact our Nursery for the most up to date information regarding fees and availability.


Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn) Reviews (100)

Total of 100, showing 41-60
10

Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn) has a Review Score of 10 (9.976) out of 10, based on 46 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn) has 100 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has settled so well at Clever Clogs. He loves his carers, friends and all the fun and creative activities on offer to do. I’m really impressed with how much he’s learnt - his counting and letter recognition have really improved since joining.

Reply from Andrea Townsley, Proprietor at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hi, thank you for your lovely words. We are so pleased to hear that your son has settled in so well and enjoys the activities.
Kind Regards.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both of our boys attend after-school clubs currently, but we’ve also had the experience of full-time nursery care before starting school. The communication is great, and the range of activities has been excellent. All of the staff have been kind, compassionate and knowledgeable.

Reply from Andrea Townsley, Proprietor at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hi, thank you for the lovely review. We are pleased to hear that the communication is great, and we will pass your lovely comments on to the girls.
Kind Regards.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Clever Clogs has been the best decision we've made for our daughter after her immunizations! My daughter (now 18 months) has attended since she was 4.5 months old, and so the girls there have practically raised her. She adores them and is so happy to go to nursery every day - this has given me so much
assurance about going back to work. The staff at Clever Clogs actually "know" my little one, giving me personalised updates at the end of the day and often sending a photo of how she's getting on. I love that Clever Clogs has an app so I can check on my little girl during the day. The staff aren't just friendly to her: they are friendly to me, comforting me when I was dropping her off, and happy to chat with me about my little one's development. Can't recommend this nursery enough!

Reply from Andrea Townsley, Proprietor at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hi, thank you for your fabulous review. We are so pleased to hear that the girls have helped make such an impact on your little one and that she loves coming to nursery every day. We will pass all your lovely comments on to the girls.
Kind Regards.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been very pleased with our child's time at Clever Clogs. She is so happy and settled. She has been here since she was 1 and is now in pre-school and she has come on so much. The girls are really lovely and we wouldn’t have her anywhere else! We will be very sad when she leaves to go to school.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hi Maggie, we are grateful for your kind words and for taking the time to leave such a positive review of the nursery. Thank you.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Clever Clogs Day Nursery are delightful, welcoming and professional. They have made it easier to return to work as I know my daughter is having a great time in a safe and happy environment which will support her development. Drop-off and pick-ups are great with both her key worker and other
staff in the room as well as updates throughout the day through the app. All staff have a genuine interest in you as a family as well as my daughter. Staff are also happy to continue any routines that we have at home in the nursery environment. In the seven months that my daughter has been at Clever Clogs (Bowburn), we have seen her settle quickly, be excited to attend and progress in her development. We are glad we made this choice for daycare and would recommend it to others.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Sarah, we are touched that you took time out to review the nursery and were so positive in your comments. It means a lot!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is the best nursery my children have been to. I get constant updates and lovely pictures from what they have been up to during the day. Whenever I see the staff they have a smile on their faces and are very accommodating. My kids always come home happy and tell me they’ve had a great day!

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hi Philip, being called the best nursery is fantastic, thank you. We are delighted you are so happy with Clever Clogs.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The team at Clever Clogs, Bowburn has made the whole process from the initial phone call to arranging a viewing visit, through to settling my children into new nursery life, an extremely easy process. All of the staff have been extremely friendly and welcoming to both myself and my children.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello, thank you for taking the time to review the nursery and for all your 5 stars and lovely comments. We appreciate it.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our grandson attends your nursery, he seemed to fit in easily and seems keen to go, we are very pleased with the service we are getting. The staff are very pleasant and clearly have affection for the children they care for. He is well catered for, he comes home a happy little boy. Thank you

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Peter, thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice review about the nursery, it means a lot to us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both of my children have attended this nursery which I am very lucky to have on my doorstep. Management are absolutely excellent and constantly there if you need them. All of the staff taking care of the children are well trained and show dedication to providing the best care for your child. It was
very hard for me, leaving my little girl to go back to work, but the nursery has supported not only my child but me as a parent also. Continuous communication throughout the day via the app, which I absolutely love, it helps me relax when I am working knowing she's ok. Overall, I am very happy with how my little girl is settling in and the support provided by everyone at the nursery. Thank you to everyone at Clever Clogs Day Nursery, words aren't enough to express how grateful we are!

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Aisha, thank you for your lovely words. We are delighted you are so happy with everything at the nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Absolutely blown away by the level of service and how our daughter has developed whilst being at Clever Clogs Day Nursery.
As soon as we pull into the car park our daughter gets excited to go in and leaves every session happy and fulfilled.
The level of detail provided throughout the day on the app
is fantastic, as is the feedback on collection.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Craig and thank you on behalf of everyone at the nursery for your very kind words; we are delighted you are so happy with Clever Clogs.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been so lucky to find somewhere that has made the decision about putting our child in a nursery easy. We debated whether it was worth Mam going back to work and we are now so glad we did. Our baby has come on masses and the staff and management have shown that they care, every step of the way.
We are kept up to date with how they are getting on throughout the day as well as hearing all about it at the end of the day. However, the fact that our baby goes in with a smile on her face says it all! What a fantastic team and we are so glad that we made the decision to choose Clever Clogs Day Nursery.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Jamie, these are lovely comments, thank you. We really appreciate the time you have taken to leave such an amazing review.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We would highly recommend Clever Clogs Day Nursery, from day one they have been amazing with us all. The management team and all of the colleagues are fabulous! Our daughter settled in straight away and thoroughly enjoys her time there.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Thank you for your kind words about Clever Clogs; it's always lovely when we receive nice feedback like this.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started at the nursery during an uncertain time when Covid was around and all the staff at Clever Clogs Day Nursery have always made me feel reassured and always go the extra mile! Amazing nursery overall and would recommend to anyone.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Sophie, thank you for choosing Clever Clogs during the pandemic and we are delighted you have been so happy with the nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

As a first-time mum leaving your baby at nursery is a daunting prospect. Clever Clogs Day Nursery has made my return to work after maternity so much easier as I know my little girl is safe and well-looked after.
The updates on the app give me peace of mind and I enjoy reading what she's been up to
whilst I'm at work. The daily activities are clearly well thought out and give the children lots of new and fun experiences.
The staff are all happy and friendly and I can tell my baby really enjoys spending time with them. My favourite part of the day is when I arrive to pick her up and see her playing happily through the window.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hi Hannah, thank you for your very kind words in this amazing review; we are all very grateful that you took the time to do this.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been going to Clever Clogs Day Nursery since April this year when he was 9 months old. He's now 14 months old and I can't fault anything about this nursery. They're all lovely and well trained. The room staff are brilliant with the children. My son loves going and his development has come
on leaps and bounds since attending. They're also really great with communication and updates on what your child is getting up to.
So glad to have Clever Clogs just a short walk from our house!

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Katie, we are delighted you chose to bring your son to Clever Clogs and that you have been so happy with his development at the nursery. Thank you.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my boys attended Clever Clogs Day Nursery. All the staff are always very friendly and welcoming every morning. The app recently implemented is great. As full-time working parents, we love that we see what the younger one is up to during the day and gives us a detailed overview of food eaten, bottles
etc. The after-school club my older one attends he is enjoying very much. Plenty for him to do. Great nursery, highly recommend.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

On behalf of everyone at Clever Clogs, thank you for such a nice review; it's always lovely to receive such amazing written feedback like this.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started at the nursery in May and she absolutely loves it. At first she found it upsetting me leaving her but she very quickly made special bonds with the staff in her room. There are lots of different activities for her to join in with that are helping her to develop. 100% the best decision
sending my little girl here.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Thank you so much for your kind review, it is great for our staff to hear.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My granddaughter has just recently started nursery and is settling in well. All staff have made us feel welcome and helped the transition into the nursery go smoothly. The staff have been so helpful giving lots of lovely feedback about her day. We attended a stay and play session for the queen’s jubilee,
it was lovely to see her playing with others and joining in with all the activities the staff had organised.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hello Tracey, thank you for this lovely review - everyone at the nursery appreciates it.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy has just started here and he has settled in so well. The staff have really made sure that we all, as a family, feel welcome and valued. Nothing has been too much hassle for them to help him settle into nursery and I know I have definitely made the right decision bringing him here.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Thank you very much for your review, it is always great to hear!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our child has gone to Clever Clogs Day Nursery from around 6-months-old and is due to start school this year.
We have always found the nursery has the best interest of the kids at the heart of everything. They offer regular updates on your child’s development and are very keen to work with the parents
to help your child settle in, adapt and get the most out of the learning journey.
Even through the pandemic they adapted and made sure the kids did not feel any or much impact.

Reply from Sharon Lewis, Manager at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn)

Hi M, thank you for taking the time to review the nursery; we appreciate it.


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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.976)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.976) out of 10 for Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 46 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 46 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.976 for Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn) is calculated as follows: ( (534 Excellents x 5) + (13 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 547 Ratings = 4.976

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Clever Clogs Day Nursery (Bowburn) is based on 46 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 108 number of registered child places is 21.6, which has been reached with 46 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (3)

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Meet the Team (7)

Vicky

Vicky Harrison

Job Title: Manager

Joined: 2023

"I gained my NNEB in 1994, and following that, I worked as a Nanny in a private home. I then went on to work in a Nursery when I relocated to the North East, progressing from practitioner, to room lead and then Deputy Manager. I gained my Foundation Degree in Education and Care in 2008. In 2023 I came to Clever Clogs as Deputy Manager and in June 2024 started to work as the Manager. I love to watch children learn and explore their environment. I particularly enjoy working with children in the outdoors and learning about mini-beasts and team building.


In my spare time, I spend with my family walking our dog.


Jess

Jess Lowes

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2022

I gained a qualification in Early Years and Education in 2015. I joined the Clever Clogs team in 2022 and became a senior in the Little Explorers room before becoming the Deputy Manager in 2024. I enjoy watching the children develop and get involved in activities especially all things messy.


In my spare time, I enjoy walks along the beach and being outdoors.


Kayley

Kayley Smith

Job Title: Senior Early Years Educator; Small Discoverer's

Joined: 2010

I have worked in childcare for 18 years, most of them as a member of the Clever Clogs team in Bowburn. I really enjoy helping children develop and watching them grow. I became a Senior in 2014 and have worked within the Tiny Miracles and Clever Thinkers before joining the mall Discoverers room. I completed my Foundation Degree in Education and Care with Sunderland and Care with Sunderland University in July 2014.


I am a friendly compassionate person who enjoys getting to know the children and families within my care.


In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends on days out.


Olivia

Olivia Taylor-Sayers

Job Title: Senior Early Years Educator; Mini Adventurers and Senco

Joined: 2021

I hold a level 3 qualification in education and care which I gained in 2021. I have been a part of the Clever Clogs since qualifying in 2021. I enjoy watching the children achieve their goals and milestones. I share their pride in their achievements!


In my spare time, I like to go shopping and socialise with my friends and family.


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Sarah Bower

Job Title: Senior Early Years Educator; Little Explorer's

Joined: 2010

Hello, I'm Sarah!


I'm the senior in the Little Explorer's room. I have a wealth of knowledge with over 22 years of experience.
I have a BTEC National Diploma in Early Year, I am still as passionate about working with children as my first day.


In my spare time, I enjoy exploring the Yorkshire Dales with my husband, daughter and my parson Russell Terrier".


Samantha

Samantha Scott

Job Title: Senior Early Years Educator; Big Inventor's

Joined: 2021

I have a qualification in Early Years Childhood studies with 9 years experience. I enjoy seeing the children learn and thrive through the activities and provisions we create.


In my spare time, I enjoy visiting my two nieces and walking the dogs with my parents and boyfriend.


Michelle

Michelle Cummins

Job Title: Senior Early Years Educator; Incredible Seekers and Senco

Joined: 2016

I have my qualification in Early years which I gained in 2013. I came to Clever Clogs in 2016 where I am now working in Clever Thinkers and the senior in our Fun Club. I am passionate about SEN and qualified as SENCO in 2020. I enjoy watching the children in my care grow and develop and like to provide exciting opportunities for them to explore.


In my spare time, I like to spend time with my family.