Puddle-Ducks Pre-school is a privately run pre-school owned and managed jointly by Angela Beardow and Mandy Rotherham. 

We are situated in the local Scout & Guide Headquarters where we have the use of a large playroom, meeting room, toilets and a kitchen.

For outdoor play we have a large grassed area and a hard court area for wet days which are used in conjunction with our own outdoor toys. Also an area is sectioned off at the back of the building to allow the children access to outdoor free flow activities.

We aspire for all children who attend Puddle-Ducks Pre-school to become confident, secure, caring individuals who achieve personal success. We encourage children to develop a love of learning, and by building strong collaborative partnerships with families ensure that this learning is relevant to their lives in the wider community.

Facilities and Activities

We offer a wide range of activities including play dough, printing, puzzles, threading, table toys, cutting, tracing, colouring, collage, junk modelling, music and rhymes, stories, construction and much more. Tables and chairs are child sized and in primary colours. All the toys conform to British Safety Standards and are kept clean and in good condition. Also in this room we have a computer with various age related software applications. 

We have separate boys and girls toilet facilities and a coat/bag area with child height pegs where children can easily access their outdoor coats when going outside. 

We make use of the outdoors, going for walks around the town and playing games on the grass area behind the setting and explore the wood area at the side. We also use our wildlife garden and vegetable patch for other outdoor learning opportunities.

Our aims at Puddle-Ducks

• To provide high quality education in all areas of the national curriculum so that all children have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

• Offer children and their families a service which promotes equality and values diversity.

• To ensure the pre-schools policies are regularly reviewed and adhered to, by all concerned.

• Develop and maintain strong links with the local schools, nurseries and the community in general.

• We have formed a partnership with the other providers in the area, Kangaroos, Scallywags and Dame Catherine Harpur’s School; our partnership policy can be viewed on the notice board.

• To provide a safe secure environment in which the children can develop life skills at their own pace.

Key Persons

Each child is allocated a key person on entry who will take a special interest in the progress of your child, looking after their personal intimate care, keeping their records of achievements and getting to know them well. All this helps them to settle into Pre-school life.

Your child’s key person will work with you or your child’s carer to ensure that your child’s routines and personal needs are taken care of. You can feel confident that the key person will get to know your child well and genuinely enjoy being part of their lives.

All members of staff will be happy to speak to you about your child but a chat with his/hers key person would be especially beneficial.

Staff and parents working in partnership talking about your child’s interests, experiences and needs all help towards compiling your child’s records. Your child’s key person will celebrate their achievements and record information about their progress in their personal learning journal. This journal is completed using formal observations, post it notes and photographs that will provide you with a keep sake when your child moves onto school.