Kids 1st Hexham

Maidens Walk, Hexham NE46 1DR
Review Us
9.9 82 Reviews
  • Kids 1st Hexham, Hexham
Kids 1st Hexham is located behind Hexham General Hospital and provides care for children who are encouraged to take advantage of a wide range of play resources and group activities for the early years.

The staff focus on the children's physical and mental development, as well as protecting the general health, hygiene and nutrition of children, who they respect as developing individuals. The nursery has its own music room, a creative studio and a soft play area, with family events also regular occurrences.
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Funding & Fees

Fees are available on the Busy Bees website

Contact Kids 1st Hexham to get a personalised quote.

Contact Kids 1st Hexham to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Eleanor Borrowdale (Centre Director)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 20

Total Places for Children

  • 110

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

Kids 1st Hexham Reviews (82)

9.9

Kids 1st Hexham has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.919) out of 10, based on 30 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Kids 1st Hexham has 82 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
  • 82
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Reviewer Connection to Kids 1st Hexham
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Total of 82, showing 1-20
Review from K M (Mother of Child) published on 16 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We've been really happy with Kids 1st since our daughter started attending. We get excellent communication every day both on the app and at pick up time, we love to see photos of what she's been up to. She's always full of smiles when we drop her off. The staff at the nursery are all warm, friendly
and helpful.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you she has settled well. I am glad you like the app
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Review from Emily F (Mother of Child) published on 16 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
As a mum, finding the right nursery for my child was so important, and I'm so glad we found Kids 1st. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed and reassured. The staff are all so caring and attentive, and my child has really thrived in their care.
I've been so impressed with the range of activities
they offer. My child always comes home with creative pieces about what they've been learning and doing, from arts and crafts to outdoor play. It's wonderful to see him developing new skills.
What I appreciate most is the individual attention each child receives. The staff really take the time to get to know each child's personality and needs, and they create a nurturing environment where they can flourish.
The nursery is always clean and well-organized, and I feel completely confident leaving my child in their care. The staff are always happy to answer any questions I have and provide updates on my child's day. I highly recommend Kids 1st nursery to any parent with a 9month - 2yr old.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you for this feedback and the lovely comments
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Review from V G (Mother of Child) published on 9 March 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Brilliant nursery! My little boy started here in September last year and he has thrived ever since! He loves being outside and the outdoor area is great for them especially in the nice weather and they take them outside as much as possible! All the staff are wonderful. Highly recommend
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you
We are very lucky having three outdoor areas.
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Review from E M (Mother of Child) published on 17 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love kids 1st, Hexham. Our son (now 16 months) has attended since he was 9 months old and has built such a special bond with the staff. He is so confident walking in to nursery in the morning and we receive excellent communication about how he has been throughout the day. The menu looks wonderful
and it is reassuring to know that our son has healthy meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner. We feel that our son is thriving at this nursery and wouldn't hesitating in recommending it to others looking for a nursery.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you we love the fact he is happy to come in every morning
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Review from C R (Mother of Child) published on 17 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child is always happy at nursery and has made lots of friends. I am confident she is being given nutritious meals and is given the opportunity for outdoor play whenever the weather allows. Staff are friendly and provide a comprehensive summary of my child's day.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you
I am pleased your child enjoys her meals
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Review from Ashley S (Mother of Child) published on 15 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child loves being at nursery. She often talks about her favourite staff members at home, and tells me all about what she did at nursery with excitement. The food options are very healthy and widely varied. My child's vocabulary is stronger each day, and she says please and thank you for everything.
During difficult phases, the staff have shown incredible support and offered advice. Cannot recommend this nursery enough.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you gif your review. I know she loves nursery
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Review from J B (Father of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are friendly, welcoming and supportive. They always communicate with us well and, really importantly, are very pragmatic about the care they give our daughter. We feel really happy and lucky to have Kids First in Hexham - they have made our daughter so welcome and show genuine care and affection
for her.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you
I am so happy you are pleased with the care we give your child
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Review from C O (Mother of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I think all the staff are lovely and very professional, they are very welcoming and I like how much information they send threw-out the day, all the meals are very healthy and a wide variety, I would recommend to everyone I know
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamI am pleased you like the new app letting you know how his day has been
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Review from C H (Mother of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has been attending kids first for a few months now and the staff are always really friendly! Leo comes home and tells me about all the fun activities they have been doing! Eleanor is a brilliant problem solver and is always there to solve an issue if you have one! All in all a very hard working
team!
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamHi
Thank you for your review. Staff work hard to ensure children's
needs are met
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Review from A M (Mother of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended Kids First for the last 6 months and I couldnt be happier with my experience so far. My daughter is happy, well fed and developing extremely well.


Staff are kind and professional and have a great relationship with the children.

Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you for your review and your feedback regarding the food
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Review from Chloe T (Mother of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My 13 month old daughter has only recently started at kids 1st. I have felt reassured from the staff and manager throughout the transition process. The app and feedback have helped reassure me throughout the settling in period and I feel comfortable with the approach from staff and myself with any questions
I have had. I have confidence it is the right setting to help her develop new skills and independence.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank You gif feedback. Those early days are so important.
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Review from Cristina B (Mother of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have had a wonderful experience with this nursery and could not be happier with the care provided. From the very beginning, the staff have been welcoming, friendly, and professional, creating a warm and nurturing environment where children clearly feel safe and happy. The team are attentive and genuinely
caring, and it's clear they take the time to understand each child's individual needs and personality.
The nursery itself is clean, bright, and well organised, with a wide range of age-appropriate activities that support learning and development through play. Our child is always engaged and excited by the activities on offer, from creative play and outdoor time to structured learning sessions. We have seen a noticeable improvement in confidence, communication, and social skills in past months
Communication with parents is excellent. We are kept well informed about daily activities, progress, and milestones, which provides great reassurance. The staff are always approachable .
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you for the review. I am so happy you feel all staff are approachable
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Review from Jane C (Grandmother of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My grandson goes to the nursery and loves it, i have nothing bad to say at all the staff are fantastic. Easy to get in touch with when needed, good amount of feedback from sessions. And new app is easy to navigate.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you Jane I'm so pleased you like the new app.
He does enjoy nursery
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Review from R F (Mother of Child) published on 13 February 2026 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has been at kids first for 3 years now. She loves being there and is always happy to go in. The staff look after her really well and know how to meet her needs. They have worked hard to help her meet her developmental milestones
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you.
Lovely to read this review and you are still happy with the Care we give
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Review from Elizabeth T (Mother of Child) published on 1 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our nearly 2 year old daughter began with Kids First a few months ago, and she absolutely loves her time there. Within days she had bonded with the fantastic and skilled staff, and I think much of her growth over the past month directly relates to the kinds of nourishing engagement that is daily practice.
Beyond this, the managers have been so accommodating with shifting schedules. We could not be happier with Kids First, and 5 stars aren't enough to reflect the brilliant care our daughter is receiving there.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you for an excellent review. I am so happy she has settled and made new friends
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Review from Rachel S (Mother of Child) published on 19 May 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff very friendly. Always happy to help with any inquiries. My son loves it here. I find it very reassuring that stuff update the app throughout the day allowing us to see what my child is up to while in nursery. Updating the food they provide helps me know what things my son enjoys and what he doesn't
like so much.
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Review from Jenny D (Mother of Child) published on 21 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We absolutely love Kids 1st at Hexham. The staff made our daughter feel so relaxed when she initially struggled to settled, now she runs up to them for a big hug. It's great to see how relaxed and comfortable she is during a nursery day. The staff always provide such great updates through the day Via
the app and debrief at the end of the day.
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Review from Emma R (Mother of Child) published on 14 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Absolutely love Kids 1st Hexham.
My eldest attended here and now my youngest does.
The staff have always been amazing. They're caring, kind, compassionate, and trustworthy.
Both my boys have loved attending this setting.
Nothing is too much and communication is spot on.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you for your review.I am so pleased your two boys have enjoyed Their time with Kids 1st
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Review from Ben T (Father of Child) published on 21 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We couldn't be happier with our experience at Kids 1st! From day one, the staff have been incredibly warm, attentive, and dedicated to creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for our son. The teachers go above and beyond to support his learning and development with engaging activities that
spark his curiosity and creativity. It's clear that they truly care about each child's well-being and growth. Our son absolutely loves attending nursery every day, and we've seen such a positive impact on his confidence and happiness.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you for a great review, he seems to enjoy his time at kids 1st having fun and learning.
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Review from Danijel D (Father of Child) published on 11 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The centre director and her team always do what's best for our kids. We're grateful for helping our little buds turn into lovely blossoming flowers. Our kids have developed strong relationships with staff and kids which is helping them develop and integrate into society.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st HexhamThank you for this great review. We love helping your children to develop and reach their milestones.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.919)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.919) out of 10 for Kids 1st Hexham is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 30 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 30 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.919 for Kids 1st Hexham is calculated as follows: ( (330 Excellents x 5) + (29 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 359 Ratings = 4.919
  2. 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 Kids 1st Hexham is based on 30 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 4
    2. 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 110 number of registered child places is 22, which has been reached with 30 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (6)

Meet the Team (1)

Eleanor

Eleanor Borrowdale

Job Title: Centre Director

My name is Eleanor Borrowdale I have worked in childcare all my adult life. I Qualified as a level 3 (NNEB) and then completed a degree in Childcare studies.


I have worked at Kids1st Hexham since May 22 and I have enjoyed developing rooms and promoting curiosity play and natural resources. I am a SENCO and enjoy working with outside agencies to ensure all children reach their full potential.


I am proud of the success I have achieved over the last few years, and I hope to continue with this in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kids 1st Hexham

What is the Age Range of Children that Kids 1st Hexham accepts?

Kids 1st Hexham accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Kids 1st Hexham Open?

Kids 1st Hexham is open: 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.

How many Children does Kids 1st Hexham have capacity for?

Kids 1st Hexham has capacity for a total of 110 Children.

How far is Kids 1st Hexham to the centre of Hexham?

0.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Kids 1st Hexham to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Kids 1st Hexham has an Enhanced Service - more info.