Kids Planet High Bank

Cleasby Road, Stapleton, Darlington DL2 2QE
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8.7 83 Reviews
  • Kids Planet High Bank, Darlington
Kids Planet High Bank is an Ofsted rated 'outstanding' nursery (September 2016) situated on a working farm in the village of Stapleton, near the town of Darlington. Nursery care is provided for children aged six weeks to five years old.

The nursery is divided into four main rooms, all of which are designed to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. An extended pre-school room, known as The Curiosity Cabin, was opened in August 2021 and this is set out like a classroom to mirror the environment the children will be in when they start school. Adjoining this room is a large polytunnel which is used as a role-play and ‘small world’ area following ‘The Curiosity Approach’, which involves using natural materials and items you would normally see at home.

There is an outstanding outdoor area with a mud kitchen, children’s theatre, pirate ship and a garden for planting fruit and vegetables. There is also a forest school and a mini-farm complete with pigs, cows, hens and lambs. Outdoor play is encouraged as much as possible.

Activities in the nursery include French, forest school, football, gardening, and children are also regularly taken into the community for educational visits.

Highly qualified staff team, including early years professionals, and all staff are trained in paediatric first aid.

Grant funding for two, three and four-year-old children is available.

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Care Provided by Kids Planet High Bank

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

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Zara Watkinson (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 27
  • Total Places for Children
  • 68
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 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 & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Kids Planet High Bank

  • Various funding accepted (15 and 30 hours). We offer . Sibling discount, NHS discount, Tax Free Childcare. Rates vary by location/nursery setting.
    Please get in touch with the nursery for our most up to date fees and availability.

Kids Planet High Bank Reviews (83)

Total of 83, showing 81-83
8.7

Kids Planet High Bank has a Review Score of 8.7 (8.718) out of 10, based on 5 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Kids Planet High Bank has 83 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Review from Emma (Mother of Child) published on 4 April 2016
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Whenever anyone asks for a nursery recommendation I suggest they have a look at High Bank and go and visit the setting for themselves.
The staff at high bank are amazing, they really care about your child as an individual.
Activities here are amazing, our little girl does so much during her time
at nursery and loves telling us what she has been up to. Every day there is something different to keep the children engaged and interested to learn.
The outdoor space is brilliant and there is no where else quite like it in the area.
We really couldn't ask for a better nursery for our daughter, she has come on so much since starting here and that's all thanks to the amazing ladies who work there and the fabulous activities that are provided daily!
Overall 10/10 from us and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a nursery setting.

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Review from Craig T (Father of Child) published on 20 November 2015
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Ever since our first visit to High Bank, we've been impressed with the professional and friendly staff. My son has now been going to the nursery since July and he has settled so easily, making our move to the area that little bit easier. The staff work very hard to ensure every day is fun and exciting
for all the children. The location and facilities are excellent. This is a very happy nursery, what more could a parent want?

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Review from Helen B (Mother of Child) published on 19 October 2015
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Highbank nursery has looked after both of my children from baby to toddler. The nursery has provided an exciting and incredibly caring environment in which both of my children have flourished. Both of my children have loved being there and always come home in a lovely mood (although shattered!!). As
a parent I have loved the idea of my children being part of a working farm!

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Current Review Score: 8.7 (8.718)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.7 (8.718) out of 10 for Kids Planet High Bank is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 5 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.9 out of 5 from 5 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 4.850 for Kids Planet High Bank is calculated as follows: ( (53 Excellents x 5) + (5 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 60 Ratings = 4.85

  • 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 3.868 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Kids Planet High Bank is based on 5 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 = 3.5

    • 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 68 number of registered child places is 13.6. 5 Positive Reviews ÷ 13.6 = 0.368

  • 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 (13)

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Meet the Team (2)

Jackie

Jackie McGreath

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2019

High Bank's Deputy Manager, Jackie McCreath joined the nursery in 2019 as Toddler room leader before being promoted to her current position. She holds a NVQ Level 3 in Childcare, Learning and Development.


Kathryn

Kathryn Metcalfe

Job Title: Toddler Room Leader

Joined: 2019

Kat joined High Bank in 2019 and was promoted to the position of Room Leader in our toddler room just a year later. She worked in childcare for most of her career, either in other early years settings or in high schools, as she is also a trained teaching assistant.


Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Kids Planet High Bank to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Kids Planet High Bank has an Enhanced Service – more info.