Lucky Ducks Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Berwick-Upon-Tweed for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023. Open since 1996, 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 Northumberland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Northumberland 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
TD15 2RBWhat 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, 24 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff welcome children and families into their inclusive and inviting setting. Children demonstrate that they develop positive relationships with staff. For instance, they rush to greet them with open arms, as they arrive at the start of their session. The manager and staff understand what it is that they want children to learn. They complete regular observations and assessments to help them identify what children need to learn next. There is a strong focus on helping children to develop good personal development skills and become confident learners. Staff offer positive comments and sensitively join in with children's play. They are enthusiastic when children create models and proudly show their work. For instance, they applaud children's efforts when they use their hand-eye coordination to successfully join large objects together on long pieces of thread. This helps children to develop good levels of self-esteem. Children's behaviour is excellent. They show good listening and attention skills, and kindness towards others. This helps children to form strong friendships with each other.
The manager and staff work closely with teachers from the onsite school, to help to ensure smooth transition arrangements are in place for children ready to start school. This includes teachers visiting children at the setting and arranging short introductory sessions into school. The manager and staff share information to help to provide a continued approach to meet children's individual needs.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- provide focused training to help staff to build on their already good teaching and to raise this to an even higher level n review adult-directed activities to support children to remain deeply engaged in their play and learning.
- 24 November 2023Good
- 16 March 2018Good
- 13 January 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lucky Ducks Pre-School
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.