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NGCA Ducklings Pre-School

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2025)
·
5.0(7 parent reviews) ·Community Centre, Notley Green, BRAINTREE, CM77 7US · Essex
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Essex

About this day nursery

NGCA Ducklings Pre-School, part of the Notley Green Community Association, is a registered charity in England and Wales, committed to providing a nurturing environment where children aged two to four can flourish. As a non-profit organisation, any operational surplus is reinvested into the setting, directly benefiting the children.

Established under the oversight of a dedicated Parents Management Committee, the pre-school’s daily operations are managed by experienced supervisors and a team of qualified staff who uphold Ofsted-required staff-to-child ratios. The pre-school encourages parents to be actively involved, with a significant majority of the management committee comprising current parents.

Ducklings has been rated as a Good Early Years setting by Ofsted in its most recent inspection. The pre-school emphasises fostering each child's unique qualities, supporting their emotional, social, and creative development, and guiding them to explore the world around them while building relationships and new abilities.

They accept government early years funding, including schemes for two-year-olds and working parents of children from nine months old.

Our ethos

NGCA Ducklings believes that children thrive in an environment which values their own uniqueness, while providing support and opportunities to grow emotionally, socially and creatively. By building on each child's strengths, interests and curiosities, we guide each child to explore the world around them as well as develop new abilities and form close relationships.

What it's like

Children enter the setting eager to explore and quickly engage in activities. They know the daily routines and begin to recognise their name labels to independently register themselves. New children settle well and form trusting relationships with staff, who provide a secure and nurturing environment.

Charity-runParent-led CommitteeOfsted-rated Good

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged per morning or afternoon session, with a full day combining both sessions. A separate charge applies to cover the lunch break between sessions for full-day bookings. Snack contributions are requested on a voluntary basis per session or full day.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)

Good to know

  • Lunch cover charge applies to children staying all day (9.00am – 3.30pm) to cover the 30-minute break.
  • Voluntary snack contributions are requested per session or per full day.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, term times only, 9am - 3:30pm (AM session: 9am - 12 noon, PM session: 12:30pm - 3:30pm)

Age range

Two to four years old

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Session types

AM session, PM session, Full day

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for NGCA Ducklings Pre-School

Last inspected 30 September 2025 · Keiley Pedro

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

What it's like to attend

Children enter the setting eager to explore and quickly engage in activities. They know the daily routines and begin to recognise their name labels to independently register themselves. New children settle well and form trusting relationships with staff, who provide a secure and nurturing environment.

Inspector highlights

  • Children enter the setting eager to explore and quickly engage in activities.
  • Staff consistently promote positive behaviour.
  • Leaders promote children's interest in reading.
  • Children develop their independence and follow familiar daily routines.
  • Staff promote healthy lifestyles by giving children daily opportunities to play outdoors.

Areas to develop

  • 1enhance strategies for monitoring and planning for children's progress, particularly for those children with SEND, to help them to consistently enhance the good progress that children make
  • 2develop the quality of staff's interactions with children to help them to consistently extend children's learning more effectively as they play.
Inspection #10407380 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents value the care their children receive and feel that staff understand each child's individual needs.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Key persons gather detailed information when children start, including what they already know, can do and the areas where they need extra support. This helps staff to provide tailored care and learning experiences. However, on some occasions, planning does not always clearly identify precise next steps or targets, particularly for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Outdoor space

Staff promote healthy lifestyles by giving children daily opportunities to play outdoors, enjoy fresh air and take part in physical activities that support their well-being. For example, children explore the role-play building site, balance along logs and ride wheeled toys. This helps children to develop coordination, strength and confidence in their physical abilities.

Parent Reviews of NGCA Ducklings Pre-School

5.0
(7)
Tina Cassidy
7 years ago

Ducklings is an amazing preschool with a fabulous staff. My daughter attended Ducklings back in 2006 to 2008. They provided her with an outstanding start in life and she has continued to love learning. Ducklings helped her to grow in confidence, provided challenges and more importantly lots of fun. The lovely thing is that when we met staff members after she left they all remember her and stopped to chat, even years later. So I write this review now as the current Chairperson, having been asked to help out when the last Chair wanted to step down. I am pleased to say that every Duckling is treated with the same care and attention as my daughter was, all those years ago, mostly by the same excellent staff members. It is now a privilege to be able to give a little back to the Ducklings team and help them to stay 'Outstanding'.

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Melanie McPherson
9 years ago

Ducklings has been a second family to my three children. The team are not only professional but so caring and provide a fantastic start to the little ones that attend. Can't recommend Ducklings preschool enough. Such a lovely intimate atmosphere where your child is an individual and where staff know your child which is unique to Ducklings.

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Sophia
2 years ago

Duckings is an amazing pre school and the teachers are absolutely wonderful, very kind, patient and caring. My biggest concern when my son started pre school for the first time was his allergies but the pre school has been amazing. They have measures in place to ensure my son is kept safe at all times. As a lock down baby with limited social interaction, I was also worried that it would take my little one a long time to settle in too but after 2 weeks of attending part time he now happily walks into school without looking back. It just goes to show how safe he feels at school and how much he really enjoys attending. An outstanding pre school, I'm so glad I chose Ducklings.

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Oscar Harvey
8 years ago

Hi I'm Oscar, I used to go to ducklings when I was a young child. Ducklings has done everything to me (In a good way.) Excellent staff. Amazing playground, Comforting interior and a incredible welcoming to this world. Duckling is incredible I would recommend it any day!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for NGCA Ducklings Pre-School. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2005

  • November 2025Good
  • September 2025Good
  • January 2020Outstanding
  • January 2020Outstanding
  • May 2016Outstanding
  • May 2016Outstanding
  • January 2009Good
  • March 2006Outstanding
  • November 2005Outstanding

Frequently asked about NGCA Ducklings Pre-School

About the setting

NGCA Ducklings Pre-School registered in 1995 and is located in Essex. The setting employs 10 members of childcare staff, six of whom have appropriate early years qualifications. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, during term time, with sessions from 9am to 3.30pm, and provides government funded childcare.

URN
203565
Registered person
Notley Green Community Association Committee
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Outstanding

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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