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Little Ducklings Nursery Devon

Ofsted: Good
(Aug 2022)
·
1.0(1 parent reviews) ·St Margarets Church Rooms, 59 Fore Street, Topsham, Exeter, EX3 0HL · Devon
Number of places
26 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Aug 2022
Local authority
Devon

About this day nursery

Little Ducklings Nursery is dedicated to providing exceptional care and education for children, striving to help each child reach their full potential. They aim to nurture strong, motivated learners who are well-prepared for their next educational journey.

The nursery operates with a simple, yet profound, ethos: every child deserves an excellent start in life. The staff are committed to upholding this principle in their daily interactions.

They prioritise the well-being of each child, treating them with the same care and attention they would give their own, understanding the importance of high-quality childcare from a parent's perspective. The nursery fosters a warm, friendly, and homely environment, promoting creativity and imagination.

The settings are designed to be intimate and cosy, fully equipped to support each stage of a child's development. They maintain favourable child-to-staff ratios, allowing for more individualised attention and flexibility for parents.

Little Ducklings Nursery values inclusivity and actively encourages creativity and open communication. They are advocates for outdoor exploration, with their locations offering ample opportunities to connect with nature.

The nursery also provides nutritious, homemade meals and snacks, catering to various dietary needs. They are strong supporters of the Baby Bank Network Exeter, regularly donating to the charity.

Their team comprises highly trained and passionate professionals who are dedicated to inspiring and nurturing young minds, working closely with parents to support each child's milestones. The nursery holds a "GOOD" Ofsted rating for its Topsham and Rockbeare settings.

They utilise the Tapestry online learning journal to keep parents informed about their child's learning and development.

Our ethos

Every child to be given the same excellent start in life.

What it's like

Children of all ages are settled and calm, showing how secure they feel with the caring staff. They enjoy a rich learning environment which is planned around their developmental needs and emerging skills. Staff provide interesting activities which engage children and capture their imaginations.

Flexible hourly ratesIncludes nappies and wipesEvening meals providedStrong focus on outdoor activitiesSupports Baby Bank Network Exeter

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on hourly rates that vary by setting and start date. Fees generally include snacks, meals, and resources, although parents at the Rockbeare location must provide a packed lunch. There are no extra consumable or resource charges for funded hours.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • No extra charges for funded children or additional resource/consumable charges.
  • Topsham fees include nappies, pull-ups, wipes, snacks, lunch, evening meal, transport, and outings.
  • Rockbeare fees include evening meal and snacks, but parents must provide a packed lunch.

Key facts

Food

Provided: lunch, evening meal, 2 snacks (Rockbeare provides evening meal and 2 snacks; packed lunch required for Rockbeare)

Opening hours

Topsham: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm; Rockbeare: Monday 8am-3.45pm, Tuesday 8am-3.30pm, Wednesday & Friday 8am-5.30pm

Age range

0-5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2022

Waitlist

Waiting lists are available

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Ducklings Nursery Devon

Last inspected 24 August 2022 · Catherine Sample

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children of all ages are settled and calm, showing how secure they feel with the caring staff. They enjoy a rich learning environment which is planned around their developmental needs and emerging skills. Staff provide interesting activities which engage children and capture their imaginations.

Inspector highlights

  • Children of all ages are settled and calm, showing how secure they feel with the caring staff.
  • Children benefit from the sensitive way in which staff handle transitions within the nursery.
  • Children, including those who need extra help and those who are learning English as an additional language, make good progress from their starting points.
  • Children are exceptionally well behaved and are skilled at sharing and taking turns.
  • Staff promote healthy lifestyles and children have daily opportunities to exercise in the outdoor area.

Areas to develop

  • 1develop the monitoring and coaching of staff to enable them to seize every opportunity to extend children's learning to the highest level
  • 2enhance partnerships with schools to ease children's move from the nursery to their next stage of learning.
Inspection #10250477 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Numerous parents report how well staff share information with them about their child's progress and comment on staff's care, insightfulness, understanding, empathy and adaptation to each child and their needs.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Where children are in receipt of additional funding, managers and staff give careful consideration to how to spend it, in order to have the most impact on the children's learning. Staff use effective strategies to support children who need extra help. This includes one-to-one activities with their key person and the use of visual cues and sign language.

Outdoor space

Children have daily opportunities to exercise in the outdoor area. Older children enthusiastically crowd round to make rubbings of leaves and cannot wait to go outside together to take part in a carefully planned 'bear hunt' activity.

EAL / language support

Children who are learning English as an additional language make good progress from their starting points. Staff are pro-active about using children's home languages in the setting. This helps those children who do not speak English at home to settle and develop their overall communication skills.

Parent Reviews of Little Ducklings Nursery Devon

1.0
(1)
Eliza Wilson
a month ago

I would avoid like the plague. The management send out new contracts like they’re going out of fashion, all laced with changes they’re hoping to slip by you. You’re charged £10 for being 4 minutes late. The management will bulk send emails with multiple families details in, sharing yours and your child’s information to strangers. Manger’s stalked me via social media, all extremely concerning. I have made serval complaints and have heard nothing back. The girls who work with the kids are amazing, a real shame they work for such a con artist.

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Inspection history

Date: August 2022

  • September 2022Good
  • August 2022Good

Frequently asked about Little Ducklings Nursery Devon

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more