About Us
Baby Ducks - learning through play
Baby Ducks is an OFSTED registered playgroup for children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years old.
We aim to provide the best quality childcare to preschool children at competitive prices that meet the needs of the children and their parents or carers and our philosophy ensures that we will provide a high standard of physical and emotional care in a happy and secure atmosphere. We are open term times only.
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We are open Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 3:30 and Friday 8:30 - 12:30
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We offer parents hours as part of the Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) during any of the hours that we are open without any extra fees or costs. Any addition hours are funded at our normal rate.
TERM DATES for 2022/2023
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AUTUMN TERM 2024
5th September 2024 until
20th December 2024
HALF TERM W/C 28th October
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SPRING TERM 2025
Monday 6th January 2024 until
Friday 4th April 2024
HALF TERM W/C 17th February​
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SUMMER TERM 2025
21st April 2025 until
16th July 2025
HALF TERM W/C 26th May
Bank Holiday Monday 5th May
When we first opened in 2006 we signed up for the QuILT (Quality Improvement in Learning and Teaching) which was developed by the early years consultants team in the council for early years settings and childminders delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
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We progressed through all of the nine modules gaining a credit in each one. We then went on to do the Quilt Gold in 2015, becoming the first setting in Brighton and Hove to achieve the accreditation.
What our parents have said...
I'm an infant school teacher and my 3 kids have all been to this preschool and have loved it. I would highly recommend it. The staff are all parents themselves and create a kind and caring environment in which the children thrive. Professional and engaging environment and activities too means they have all begun school with a great start in their learning.
I can't praise baby ducks enough, my daughter was so shy and unsure before she started there, largely I feel due to the covid 19 pandemic and not being able to experience baby/toddler groups or see extended friends and family.
Straight away I felt she would be cared for and nurtured by the staff at baby ducks. I viewed several nurseries in the area and felt baby ducks had exactly the right atmosphere and ethos.
She settled very easily and far quicker than I expected her to. She quickly began to look forward to her days at nursery and came home happy and tired.
I am kept well updated, both verbally at pick up/handover as well as receiving regular updates via tapestry.
The staff seem happy and engage well with the children, they encourage independence and appreciate the value of play.
Overall I couldn't be happier with baby ducks as my childcare provider and I don't think daugher could be either.
This is a lovely nursery with traditional values. My daughter has just left Baby ducks after nearly 3 years and has always felt welcomed and loved. They have space to play, lots of things to play with and they get to do lots of creative stuff too. They are happy to hug your child if they are upset yet will also encourage the children to feel independent. My daughter left happy and confident ready to face school in September. Many thanks to all the brilliant staff at Baby ducks.
My son has been going to Baby Ducks for over a year now and we could not be happier with it. Every member of staff greets him with a smile and he is so happy to attend each day.
He has developed so well with his social skills- he struggled with this following Covid.
We are so pleased with his academic progress and feel he is being well prepared for school next year.
Baby Ducks have supported with his toilet training and managed to get him on a toilet before he would at home.
He speaks fondly about everyone at Baby Ducks and we are confident that he is happy and safe in their care.
Our children love going to Baby Ducks nursery. They are happy, safe and love learning. Staff are professional and friendly.
I moved my son to Baby Ducks from another nursery and was really worried about how he would settle. However, from the first moment, he absolutely loved it.
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The staff have been so friendly and helpful with flexible hours and keeping me up to date with his progress.
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I am so happy I decided to send him to such a warm and friendly nursery where I feel he is safe and well cared for.
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Every morning he asks excitedly, “Are we going to Baby Ducks?” which I think says it all!
From the moment I took my son in to have a visit it felt warm and welcoming and I could see how much choice they had to play with within a big open space.
My son was born during lockdown and has struggled with his emotions, interacting with other children and expressing himself. The preschool have been so helpful during this time. Giving us tips to try at home as well as his key person focusing on teaching him his emotions and how to express these. We get photos through tapestry to see how he is doing as well as a good hand over at the door plus being able to catch up at parents meetings last term.
My son loves going to Baby Ducks each morning and grabs his bag and lunch box with excitement, to me that shows just how much he is nurtured and cared for by the whole team.