Puddleducks Day Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Spalding for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in March 2022. Open since 2008, with 28 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 Lincolnshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Lincolnshire 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
PE11 1ULWhat 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.
- 9 May 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 24 March 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children have very strong attachments to the staff who look after them. When babies are tired or upset, staff instantly recognise their needs. They hold them close and gently comfort them. Children are active explorers, they investigate and discover for themselves how things work. Children develop their small-muscle skills as they skilfully use a funnel, for example, to fill up empty water bottles. They quickly realise that once full, they can squirt the water out again. There is great fun and much laughter to be had when the water splashes the staff. Children become absorbed in their learning and play. Babies begin to develop their independence from an early age. Staff support and encourage them to use cutlery effectively to eat their lunch.
Children demonstrate excellent behaviour. They are learning to explore and express their emotions. When children have very minor disagreements, staff explain, 'your friend does not like it'. They ask children to consider what they could do differently. Staff are consistent in the way they manage behaviour, which contributes to the children understanding what is expected of them. Children show superb respect for others. Babies show newfound confidence as they dance in front of the whole group of children during a music session. Not only do staff offer praise, all children join in with a 'well done' and clap their hands.
- 24 March 2022Outstanding
- 30 June 2014Outstanding
- 3 December 2008Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Puddleducks Day Nursery
- 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.