Ducklings Pre-School

Friendship, confident conversation and learning through play shaped daily life at Ducklings Pre-School in September 2024. At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged it Good overall, with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, and found safeguarding effective. Children shared, cooperated and listened to one another: social development was a clear strength of that inspection picture.

Based in Great Massingham, the pre-school has capacity for 16 children aged 24 to 60 months. It opens during term time, making the school-holiday calendar an important practical consideration.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, play provides opportunities to practise language, movement and relationships. In September 2024, activities drew on children's interests, including a game jumping between hoops and experimenting with paint colours on large sheets of paper. These examples show learning built around participation and discovery.

Stories had a practical, playful dimension. In September 2024, staff used knitted props and varied their voices while reading; rhyme activities linked unfamiliar vocabulary with counting and exchanging a penny for a pretend bun. Drawing and other mark-making gave children opportunities to explain their ideas and share their pictures at home.

Outdoor experiences included bicycles and tricycles, with staff breaking unfamiliar movements into manageable steps. September 2024 activities also included neighbourhood walks, trails and church visits. These connected children with their surroundings, although extending their understanding of cultures and traditions beyond familiar experiences was an improvement priority.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received good support, with staff recognising emerging needs and working with families and professionals on strategies to address learning gaps. This gives parents a concrete picture of how support operated at that time.

In September 2024, staff gathered information from parents before children started and exchanged updates through conversations and writing. Children sought comfort from adults they trusted, while staff listened carefully to their contributions. Staff also took part in planning and implementing the curriculum.

Independence featured in September 2024 daily routines: children poured drinks and cleared food from their plates. Parents supplied food, and staff used conversations about its origins and healthy choices to extend learning beyond mealtimes.

Ducklings Pre-School's address is VC Primary School, Weasenham Road, Great Massingham, KING'S LYNN, PE32 2EY. Term-time opening hours are 9am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9am to midday on Wednesday, and 9am to 4pm on Friday; it closes for school holidays.

In September 2024, the pre-school provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated funding position should be distinguished from the current attendance arrangements a family agrees.

• Holiday cover. The pre-school closes during school holidays. Families needing childcare throughout the year will need to account for those breaks.
• Different closing times. Wednesday finishes at midday and Friday at 4pm. The weekly pattern needs to fit collection arrangements, rather than assuming identical hours each day.
• Broader cultural learning. September 2024's improvement priority concerned traditions, cultures and backgrounds beyond children's own experiences. At a visit, ask how activities now extend that understanding and how funded attendance, meals and consumables fit the proposed booking.

Ducklings suits families seeking term-time childcare who value play, friendships and growing independence. In September 2024, children trusted staff and participated enthusiastically, while broader cultural learning remained an improvement priority. The shorter Wednesday opening is central to deciding whether its weekly rhythm works for your family.