Little Ducklings
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Thetford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 July 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2004, with 76 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 Norfolk
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Norfolk 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
IP24 1JWWhat 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, 23 July 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children benefit from meaningful learning across a curriculum that is designed to give them the knowledge they will need when they start school. Children who learn best from being outdoors are able to do so. They have access to a range of lovely indoor and outdoor activities that take into account all areas of learning. Children take part enthusiastically in planned, adult-led activities. For example, they talk with staff about famous artists and create their own artwork using well known pictures as their inspiration.
Children are happy and demonstrate that they feel safe. They are emotionally secure in this welcoming and friendly setting. Children have good relationships with staff and actively seek them out for reassurance or for support with activities. They chat readily with staff, who model taking turns in conversation and introduce new vocabulary. Children are confident communicators. Babies babble enthusiastically and staff respond positively to them.
Children are helped to be prepared for life in modern Britain. They are beginning to understand about our diverse society and develop positive attitudes to others.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to be fully aware of where children are in their learning, in order to build more precisely on what they already know and can do n provide staff with more regular supervision opportunities, to support their practice further.
- 23 July 2021Good
- 26 September 2019Needs improvement
- 12 December 2012Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Ducklings
- 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.