Kids 1st Hexham

Maidens Walk, Hexham NE46 1DR
Review Us
9.6 68 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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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

Funding & Fees

  • Fees are available on the Busy Bees website

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 (68)

9.6

Kids 1st Hexham has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.607) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Kids 1st Hexham has 68 reviews.

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Total of 68, showing 1-20
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 Hexham
Thank 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 Hexham
Thank 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 Hexham
Thank 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 Hexham
Thank you for this great review. We love helping your children to develop and reach their milestones.
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Review from Helen W (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both of my sons have attended here since 11 months old. My eldest has left to go to school but I couldn't fault how well he has developed through going to this nursery right through to school. My youngest is still at the nursery and I can see how much he is thriving. He loves the staff, the food and
all of the activities. The staff go above and beyond for him and there is a good handover when I pick him up. The staff are caring, fun and my son is always excited to see them. The outdoor space is great for all the children and the separate rooms help them develop in their own time. Overall I am so pleased I brought both my children to this nursery as it sets them up for school life in a brilliant environment! I would highly recommend it.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
Thank you I want to thank you for your excellent review. Handovers are important and an important part of the day.
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Review from K H (Mother of Child) published on 3 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Kids 1st Nursery is brilliant my son has been coming to this nursery from being 8 months old, and absolutely loves it. He settled in very well and I felt comfortable leaving him there. He has moved up through 3 rooms and has thoroughly enjoyed each room. He usually goes into nursery without a problem
which is lovely to see. All of the staff are amazing and I know that my child is safe when left here. Overall, I am very happy that I picked this nursery for my child to go to and if I have any more children this nursery will be my first choice without a doubt.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
Thank you for this review. I am pleased you chose Kids 1st Hexham to care for your son.
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Review from Beverley S (Mother of Child) published on 25 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All staff are so friendly, my little girl has been going since she was 8 months old and loves it.
The toys are fab, I think my daughter loves song time the best as she comes home and does the actions. Her development has improved and I believe it's because of everything she learns from nursery.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
thank you she does enjoy her time at kids 1st. we enjoy song time at nursery a great way to develop language skills
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Review from Charlotte C (Mother of Child) published on 25 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been with Kids 1st Hexham since June 2021 with all three of our kids. They have all been extremely happy and settled there. The staff are warm and friendly and are able to tell my identical twins apart. They treat them as individuals which has always been a priority for us. The focus on outdoor
play and the amazing outdoor space available to all the kids at the nursery is what makes it such a special place. The kids have so much fun while learning and doing loads of different activities every day. We get to see what they have been up to through regular updates which makes us feel confident in the staff. We have been really happy with Kids 1st.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
Thank you the girls have their own individual personalities.
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Review from Sarah S (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Kids 1st Nursery is a child-centred practice. They use open discussion with parents to initiate the child's routine and focus on using the EYFS to meet the child's educational needs. The family and child's personal interests are taken into consideration when planning activities and they ensure that
the children have knowledge of the diverse world around us. An app is used to update parents throughout the day and also includes snapshots of their development. Children are separated into different age rooms so that their development stage is a main focus. There is also outside areas for the children. Parent and child sessions are planned so you can see how the nursery functions. Each child has a key worker who supports their learning and gives feedback to the parents. An NHS-approved menu is included for the children so can guarantee a healthy and nutritious diet. The site has easy accessibility with a car park. Top-rated nursery.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
Thank you for this review. It will benefit prospective Parents.
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Review from A M (Father of Child) published on 10 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I just want to say how absolutely amazing Kids 1st nursery is! If I could give more than 5 * I would and highly recommend to anyone who has little ones. My son previously attended before starting school and had the best time and now my daughter attends and has since April 2024. The staff are absolutely
amazing, they provide some fabulous, stimulating activities to help my daughter thrive and meet her milestones as well as providing feedback all about her day so it feels as if I am right there with her. They offer recommendations of learning at home so we can get involved with her progress too which is absolutely amazing. The rooms are always set up so well and I just know she has a lovely day when she attends. The staff always make such an effort at drop off and pick ups and the bonds they have with the children from day one are always shown. If anyone is out there looking for childcare don't hesitate to contact this nursery. You won't regret it. Amazing, amazing, amazing!
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
Thank you for this amazing review. It is lovely for the staff to see they all do an excellent job.
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Review from M W (Mother of Child) published on 10 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both our children have a great time at kids first in Hexham. They're always learning, have great relationships with the staff there, who obviously care for the children, and the management is often flexible with fitting in extra days for us when needed.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
Thank you for your review. It is lovely to see how your children have progressed during their time at Kids 1st.
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Review from S W (Mother of Child) published on 21 November 2024 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My son has been at nursery for two years and he is a lot more confident since starting. The staff are very engaging and my son mostly has a good time. He enjoys his meals, spending time in the mud kitchen and reading stories. He was more settled once staff became more consistent as he did have five
key works which was unsettling for him. Also staff great with him being involved with SEN.
Reply from Eleanor Borrowdale, Centre Director at Kids 1st Hexham
thank you we do treat all children as individual and at kids 1st we have two SEN leads to support children with their learning
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Review from J M (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Staff warm and welcoming.
Child very happy there.
Range of activities.
Lots of outdoor play.
Photos shared.
Variety of food.
The graduation ceremony was enjoyed by all, a nice opportunity to say goodbye.
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Review from Laura J (Mother of Child) published on 21 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
When my son turned nine months old, he began his childcare journey at a different local nursery. I had reservations regarding the level of care and the environment there, which prompted me to move him to Kids 1st in Hexham.
I was worried about how he would cope with a big change like this, but he's
thrived since being at Kids 1st (almost seven months now). Each morning, his eagerness to be dropped off is a testament to the nurturing and stimulating environment provided there. The commitment and warmth exhibited by everyone at the nursery, from the centre director and managers to the key workers and even the nursery chef, has been wonderful. Their professionalism, coupled with a genuine care for my son's well-being and development, has been evident in every interaction.
I'm so pleased I decided to move him, and I'm very happy to recommend Kids 1st to other parents looking for an exceptional nursery setting for their child.
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Review from B W (Mother of Child) published on 27 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my children attend Kids 1st Hexham and they go in smiling every day. My eldest talks fondly about all the staff and my youngest flaps her hands excitedly when we say she is going to nursery. They do a lovely range of activities for both of them and the staff are always very positive and welcoming.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Kids 1st Hexham
Hello, Wow! Thank you for this glowing review! We are delighted your little one is having a good experience at our Hexham nursery. Best wishes, Kids 1st
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Review from P G (Mother of Child) published on 26 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Kids 1st Hexham nursery is an excellent nursery. My daughter is very happy going to this nursery. Staff member is very good and caring. The nursery has a beautiful garden. When kids want to go they can go and play. Each member is so helpful. A lot of confidence in my daughter. She learns to speak
in English. She has made many friends. This nursery is very neat and clean. Good parking area. I am very happy to send my daughter to this nursery.
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Kids 1st Hexham
Hello, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review! We’re glad you’re giving your little one the best start in life with us. Best wishes, Kids 1st
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Review from Kayley H (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing nursery! All staff members are very friendly and look out for your little one! Can't thank them enough for making me feel so settled at work after having my first little one! Daily updates on how they are doing at nursery is a great thing, makes you feel so much more relaxed knowing they are
having fun in safe hands!
Reply from Emily Graves, Digital Content Assistant at Kids 1st Hexham
Hello, We love reading feedback like this! Thank you for sharing it with us; we will pass on your lovely comments to the team at Hexham. Best wishes, Kids 1st.
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Review from P P (Father of Child) published on 24 May 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All members of staff are extremely friendly and great with my daughter. They were also fantastic with my eldest, who also attended the nursery. My daughter has been here since 2017, till present, and has always enjoyed her time there. Absolutely fantastic nursery from the manager to all the staff.
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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.607)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.607) 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 16 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.7 out of 5 from 16 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 4.880 for Kids 1st Hexham is calculated as follows: ( (168 Excellents x 5) + (23 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 191 Ratings = 4.88
  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 4.727 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Kids 1st Hexham is based on 16 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 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
    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. 16 Positive Reviews ÷ 22 = 0.727
  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.