Duckpool Pre-School C.I.C
OutstandingBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Whickham for children from birth to 5, open 10:00 to 20:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2023. Open since 2011, with 24 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 Gateshead
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gateshead 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
NE16 4HBWhat 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, 8 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The highly-experienced leaders and staff share an aspiring vision for all children to receive first-rate education. They work seamlessly to ensure that their highly ambitious curriculum is ingrained in their practice. As a result, children excel in all areas of their development. Leaders and staff place a large emphasis on supporting children to understand and develop healthy bodies and healthy minds. This includes children being physically active in their play. Children help to build their own complex obstacle courses during outdoor learning and move their bodies in different ways. They take part in helping to prepare and cook different foods. They grow their own vegetables and learn where food comes from. Children recently made pumpkin soup. They taste various herbs and spices and talk about what they can smell and taste. Children develop an understanding of why certain foods are good for us. They help to 'write' recipe cards and draw pictures of the key ingredients, including avocado and carrots when making cupcakes. This helps to develop children's literacy skills.
Staff are excellent role models for children. They model how to use impeccable manners and shower children with an abundance of praise. Children show high levels of self-esteem through their determination and perseverance to have a go during tasks that they may find challenging.
- 8 November 2023Outstanding
- 29 March 2018Good
- 1 July 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Duckpool Pre-School C.I.C
- 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.