Ducklings @ Rochdale
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Manchester for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2024. Open since 2021, 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 Manchester
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Manchester 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
M9 8AJWhat 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, 17 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff have created a calm and tranquil learning environment for children. As children arrive, their laughter fills the air and the atmosphere buzzes with their excitement. Staff are good role models and provide children with clear expectations for their behaviour. Children know what is expected of them and they behave well.
They are caring towards others and provide their friends with cuddles. In the main, staff provide children with a balanced curriculum, which builds on what they already know and can do. Staff know children incredibly well and provide them with a variety of exciting learning experiences. For example, children relish visits to the farm and to the sensory play centre.
Staff support children's emotional well-being effectively. They spend time getting to know children and their families during the settling-in period. Children have a strong sense of belonging and are confident individuals. Staff help children to understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Children are enthralled while visiting the local market to buy fruit and vegetables. They help to prepare healthy meals and learn where different foods come from. Children take part in exercise classes and giggle with delight while learning cheerleading routines. Staff prepare children exceptionally well for their eventual move on to school. They take children to meet with their class teachers and to look around their classrooms. Children are excited about going to school and develop a good understanding of what will be expected of them.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to fully understand the intended curriculum for communication and language, to better support children's speaking skills n strengthen coaching, training and mentoring arrangements for staff, to help to raise their practice further.
- 17 May 2024Good
- 11 July 2023Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Ducklings @ Rochdale
- 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.