Ducklings Pre-School Ltd
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in July 2024. Open since 2011, with 26 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 Hampshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hampshire 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
SO31 7DUWhat 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, 10 July 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive at this homely setting, run by a wonderful staff team that knows the children so well. Staff are continually communicating with their colleagues about the children and instinctively give each other support, which makes the day run smoothly. Children are provided with interesting and exciting learning opportunities that ignite their fascination of the world around them. They make frequent trips out of the setting, for example, to the library and to the local woods. Children also go on regular visits to a local care home for the elderly, which helps them develop respect for others and gain a greater understanding of their place in society. The setting also subscribes to a children's newspaper, so that children can learn about what is happening around the world. They learn about earthquakes and develop new vocabulary as staff teach them about tectonic plates.
Staff offer lots of praise for children's achievements, which helps children to feel a great sense of pride. Children are very well behaved. They offer to help their peers during activities and look out carefully for the younger children. The manager and staff are highly attuned to the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work closely with parents and other professionals to devise targeted strategies and ensure children receive ongoing support.
- 10 July 2024Outstanding
- 18 September 2018Outstanding
- 16 October 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Ducklings Pre-School Ltd
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.