Duffield Preschool
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Belper 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2023. Open since 1986, 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 Derbyshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Derbyshire 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
DE56 4GTWhat 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, 11 September 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are invited to visit the provision with their parents prior to starting at the pre-school, helping them to become familiar with staff and the environment. They are greeted by warm staff when they arrive. Staff get down to children's level and talk to them about family members and their holidays. This helps children to have a sense of belonging. These interactions contribute to all children, including those who are new to the pre-school, settling quickly when they arrive, demonstrating that they feel emotionally secure. Children are encouraged to be independent. For instance, at snack time, staff ask children to hand out plates to their peers and pour their own drinks.
Children are encouraged to have a positive attitude to solving problems. When they use bricks to build and construct, staff ask how they can make their construction taller, and children say, 'add more'. Children smile when they receive praise from staff for building it taller, helping to develop their confidence and self-esteem.
Children are shown how to develop new skills. For example, they are supported by staff to understand how to make play dough flatter. Staff show them how to push on the dough when they roll it with their hands. Children show their imaginations when they happily tell staff that they are making their 'daddy's hair' with the dough.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to support children to identify and know what to do if they encounter potential risks when they use technology to access the internet at home n support children to find the answers to questions they do not know to help build on their knowledge.
- 11 September 2023Good
- 12 October 2017Good
- 26 March 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Duffield Preschool
- 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.