Duckpool Pre-School CIC

Woodland exploration, French lessons and cooking gave Duckpool’s November 2023 provision a recognisable character. Children built obstacle courses, grew vegetables and helped make pumpkin soup: practical experiences that connected movement, language and learning about food.

At its 8 November 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Duckpool Outstanding, finding that ambitious teaching supported children’s development and that children showed confidence and persistence. The setting has capacity for 24 children aged 24 to 60 months, at Duckpool Lane in Whickham.

In November 2023, the early years foundation stage, the framework for children’s learning, development and care, was translated into practical play and conversation. Cooking included drawing ingredients and making recipe cards, linking food preparation with early literacy. Outdoor obstacle-building gave children opportunities to experiment with different movements.

Storybooks provided repetition and rhyme, while staff explained unfamiliar vocabulary. Weekly French lessons used actions to help children remember words. These were complementary routes into spoken language: familiar stories alongside another language.

An on-site woodland trail brought close observation into outdoor play. Children compared fallen leaves by texture, shade and veins, and learnt caution around sharp or prickly plants. Parents supplied tubes and connectors that became a water pouring station, extending opportunities to investigate how materials worked.

At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described detailed assessment, work with other professionals and tailored interventions, including a sensory calming space to support emotional regulation. This linked recognition of a child’s needs with a practical response.

In November 2023, staff used props and conversation to help children describe sadness and happiness. Praise and demonstrations of considerate behaviour supported persistence with difficult tasks. Children also practised judging risks, including carrying equipment safely and moving large pieces of wood together.

Parents were invited to discuss settling and development, and to contribute suggestions. Daily staff discussions reviewed practice, while supervision identified individual training needs. These arrangements connected parental knowledge with staff reflection rather than treating progress as a separate conversation.

The address is St Mary's R C Primary School, Duckpool Lane, Whickham, NE16 4HB. Attendance is term-time, with school holidays closed; opening hours are 8.50am to 2.50pm, Monday to Friday.

In November 2023, the setting provided funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. That is a dated participation fact, rather than a promise of a funded place or a particular attendance arrangement.

• Term-time calendar. School holidays are closure periods. Families needing care through the holidays should weigh that against their working calendar.
• Current attendance and funding arrangements. How are bookings organised within the 8.50am to 2.50pm opening window, and how would funded hours and any additional charges apply to your child?
• School-site address. Duckpool’s address is St Mary's R C Primary School. Attending a nursery on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

Duckpool suits families seeking term-time care whose priorities include practical learning, language and outdoor exploration. Its November 2023 provision combined woodland observation, French and cooking with thoughtful responses to children’s emotional needs. The school-holiday closure is the clearest practical consideration when weighing that educational character against family routines.