Ducklings @ Monkston Park
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Monkston Park for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 2011, with 40 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Milton Keynes
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Milton Keynes from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
MK10 9PNWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 9 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children show excitement and joy as they run into the pre-school and meet their friends and staff. They separate easily from their parents and are keen to join an activity.
Children enjoy an inviting and spacious environment that is well resourced and organised. Staff ensure that this is ready for children to explore and discover a variety of learning opportunities. For example, children begin to learn to follow instructions from a play dough recipe. They look at the instructions and learn to measure and mix the ingredients.
Staff offer a wide variety of activities and resources. They keep in mind the needs and interests of all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children learn to make choices and move with confidence as they choose where and what they would like to play. They particularly enjoy outdoor play in the snow. Children make tracks with their feet through the snow, following each other as they make patterns.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the arrangements to promote children's independence, to provide a greater consistency n support staff to understand the importance of allowing children time to process information and formulate an answer to questions posed.
- 9 March 2023Good
- 6 June 2017Good
- 23 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Ducklings @ Monkston Park
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.