Chatterbox Day Nursery

Welcome to Chatterbox, a family-run nursery that has been providing exceptional care for children aged 0-12 years since 2004. Located in the picturesque seaside town of Newcastle, our nursery is conveniently situated near local amenities such as the town library, primary schools, parks, and the seaside promenade. Our mission is to create a warm and welcoming environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive.

Our History

Chatterbox is owned by husband and wife team Paul and Jane O'Connor, who took over the business in April 2010. Paul, a local building contractor, has carried out an entire re-furbishment of the nursery to the highest possible standard, ensuring that our facilities are of the highest quality. Jane, a registered nurse and deputy ward manager in the Royal Group of hospitals, has previously worked as a part-time first aid lecturer in various Further Education colleges. With their wealth of experience and knowledge, Paul and Jane are committed to providing high-quality childcare in a clean, comfortable, friendly, and caring environment.

Our Staff

At Chatterbox, we pride ourselves on our experienced and qualified staff. All of our staff are vetted through Access NI and have child protection and first aid training. They regularly attend external training courses to enhance their knowledge and skills, ensuring that we provide the best possible care for your children. Our low staff turnover provides consistency of care and helps create a family atmosphere. Our staff enjoy seeing the children develop and progress throughout all their stages of development.

Our Facilities

Our nursery is registered with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and is monitored by them regularly. We are proud to have achieved great success and praise for the care we provide. Our facilities include a range of well-resourced rooms, excellent hygiene practices, and a warm and friendly atmosphere. We have a baby room, waddler room, and pre-school room, each tailored to the specific needs of the children in each age group. Our newly refurbished kitchen is where our qualified cook prepares and cooks all meals, providing home-made and nutritious food daily.

Our Services

We offer a range of services to meet the needs of our families, including full-time and part-time care, breakfast club, and afterschool care. Our fees are competitive, and we offer a discount for siblings. We accept childcare vouchers and are registered for the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credits.

Our baby room provides a warm and nurturing environment for children aged 0-18 months. Our waddler room is designed for children aged 18-30 months, providing a stimulating and safe environment for them to explore and learn. Our pre-school room is tailored for children aged 3-5 years, preparing them for the transition to primary school.

Our afterschool care provides a safe and fun environment for children aged 5-12 years after school. We offer a range of activities, including arts and crafts, cooking, and outdoor play. We also provide a quiet space for children to complete their homework.

Our Food

At Chatterbox, we believe in the importance of providing healthy and nutritious meals for your children. We are proud to have been awarded a diamond award in the "321 Dental Health Award Scheme" (South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust). We source all of our food from local shops to ensure fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, poultry, and meat are provided for the children. We have a five-star rating in the Down District Council food hygiene rating.

Testimonials

We are proud of the relationships we have built with our families over the years. Here are some testimonials from some of our happy parents:

"Our son James was in nursery care at Chatterbox Day Care Nursery Newcastle from the age of 9 months until the age of 4 years. We will be forever endebted to all the staff who looked after James with such love and care over the course of his early developmental years." - Sinead and Arthur Kearney, Castlewellan.

"Chatterbox is quite simply the best place for my children (aged 1, 5 and 8) to be cared for, stimulated, educated, and entertained in a safe and friendly environment when their father and I are working." - Kerry Stafford

"My kids adore the girls that look after them, the lasting friendships they have made, the delicious and healthy food at lunchtime and snack, and they have thrived on the varied, creative, educational, entertaining, loving environment that has surroounded them." - Kerry Stafford

"As a teacher and a parent of a child with Down's Syndrome, I am very happy with the caring atmosphere, warm support, adapted range of activities provided by the staff and management of Chatterbox, Newcastle. The recent renovations are wonderful - a fabulous transformation." - Mrs Catherine McKeever