Nurseries and Childcare in Corbridge

For a village of its size, Corbridge has a good spread of early years settings. There's a full day nursery, a preschool, nursery classes at the first school and a breakfast and after-school club. This guide covers each one, plus funded hours and where to find toddler groups.

Places can be tight, especially for babies and for the most popular sessions. Get in touch early, ideally several months before you need a place.

Day nursery

Little Tinklers

Little Tinklers is at Tinklers Yard on Tinklers Bank, just off the centre of the village. It's a full day care nursery and has been registered with Ofsted since 2004. It's run by Little Tinklers CIC, a community interest company, which also has nurseries elsewhere in the area.

Ofsted rated the Corbridge nursery Outstanding in every area after its inspection in February 2023, as it had in 2017. Of the settings in this guide, it's the main option for parents who need long days and care for under-twos. Phone 01434 634343 to ask about places and fees.

Preschool and nursery classes

Corbridge Preschool Early Years

Corbridge Preschool Early Years is in the grounds of Corbridge CofE First School on St Helen's Lane. It's run by its own community interest company and offers funded early education for two to four-year-olds. Ofsted rated it Good in all four areas in October 2021.

Many of its children move on to the first school, so it's a natural route into Reception. Phone the preschool on 01434 622947 to ask about sessions and availability.

Nursery classes at Corbridge CofE First School

Corbridge (VA) Church of England First School takes children from age three, in nursery classes on the school site. The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019, and an ungraded inspection in April 2025 found that it had kept those standards. Phone the school office on 01434 632534 to ask about nursery admissions. Our schools guide explains how children move up through Corbridge's three-tier system.

Wraparound care

Corbridge Kids Club

Corbridge Kids Club runs at the first school in term time:

• Breakfast club: 7.30am to 8.45am, with an optional breakfast of toast, fruit and yoghurt.
• After-school club: 3.15pm to 6pm.

The club is open to children from Nursery to Year 8, so families with a child at the first school and an older one at Corbridge Middle can use the same club. It has been registered with Ofsted since 2016. Its June 2024 inspection found it met the required standards. Book through the first school's office.

Funded childcare hours

In England, funded early education is paid for by the government and arranged through your provider:

• All three and four-year-olds get 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their third birthday.
• Eligible working parents can get 30 hours a week from the term after their child turns nine months, until they start school.
• Some two-year-olds get 15 hours if the family receives certain benefits.

Each setting decides how it offers funded hours, and many charge for extras such as meals or longer days. Ask each one how it works there. To check your eligibility and get a code for the working parents' hours, use the Childcare Choices website. Northumberland County Council's Family Information Service can tell you more about local provision.

Baby and toddler groups

We haven't found a regular parent and toddler group meeting in Corbridge itself. The nearest established group we know of is the Parent and Toddler Group at Hexham Community Centre on Priestlands Close in Hexham (01434 608166). Phone ahead to check session times.

Corbridge Library on Hill Street is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It's worth asking there about any story or rhyme sessions. If you run a toddler group in Corbridge, please get in touch and we'll add it.

Choosing a setting

Before you decide on a setting:

• Read its latest Ofsted report. Every setting in this guide publishes its reports on the Ofsted website, under the reference number given on its directory listing.
• Visit in person. Most settings welcome a look round before you commit.
• Ask the practical questions: session times, holiday closures, what meals cost and how the setting handles settling in.