Little Ducklings Pre school The Old Ticket Office

A train-platform setting gives Little Ducklings Pre school The Old Ticket Office an unusual identity. Its Topsham premises have capacity for 24 children, while the May 2026 account describes a day built around stories, construction play and walks beyond the site.

At its May 2026 inspection, Ofsted assessed every reported area at Expected standard and found safeguarding standards met. The practical caveat concerns outdoor learning: preparation for walks took too long, and activities outside needed closer links to each child's next learning steps.

In May 2026, planning combined children's interests with the early years foundation stage, the framework for learning, development and care: play brought together language, movement and problem-solving rather than treating them as separate lessons. A road-safety activity connected model cars and bridges with vocabulary about position, then carried safety messages into walks.

Construction offered a concrete reason to cooperate. Children tested whether cars could pass beneath their bridges, exchanged ideas and counted during a tunnel game. Story sessions extended vocabulary through dinosaur names and encouraged children to predict what would happen next.

Outdoor space on site was limited in May 2026, so children accessed outdoor environments daily and walked to a partner setting. Monthly visits to a local care home added contact beyond their usual peer group. These experiences widened the day, although outdoor teaching and the preparation for walks needed greater consistency.

At the May 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that children progressed from their starting points and that support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities included achievable speech-and-language targets, outside-agency involvement and help to participate in activities.

Settling in that month was gradual: sessions could build towards lunch and, where relevant, a nap, with a key person providing continuity. When children became upset, staff used bubbles, comfort and a quieter place to help them settle. Parents received observations and onward referrals where needed, giving families a role in support rather than leaving assessment entirely within the setting.

Food was prepared on the premises in May 2026, and adults sat with children during meals. Children fetched their water bottles and returned bowls to the chef, making everyday routines opportunities to practise independence.

The address is The Old Ticket Office, Holman Way, Topsham, Devon, EX3 0EN. In May 2026, opening hours were 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and children attending were aged 2 to 4; those are dated operating details rather than a current attendance offer.

• The walk is part of the day. In May 2026, children used outdoor environments beyond the limited space on site. On a visit, explore how those walks fit around your child's energy and needs.
• Outdoor teaching needs consistency. The May 2026 improvement priorities concerned learning outside and lengthy preparation between indoor and outdoor activity. Ask how staff now keep children involved during that changeover.
• Your attendance pattern. What booking arrangements would accommodate the days and hours your family needs?

This setting suits families drawn to a preschool day involving stories, collaborative construction and community contact. The May 2026 picture combines gradual settling and purposeful indoor play with a clear improvement priority outdoors. Families who value learning beyond the premises should weigh both the experiences themselves and how smoothly children move between them.