‘The important stuff for parents’

Our children are cared for in 3 main rooms, packed with age appropriate learning opportunities, which change daily according to children’s interests.

Our babies are cared for in a superb self-contained unit on our first floor, complete with own sleep room, and built in kitchen.

Toddlers benefit from two adjoining open plan rooms on our ground floor, with free-flow access to our lovely gardens. Our preschool children are also cared for on our ground floor, in a purpose made preschool room, which also benefits from access straight into the garden.

We have a large, brand new commercial kitchen located on our first floor, where our two nursery chefs prepare fresh, nutritious and delicious meals for our children.

A large private carpark and plenty of side streets make for easy drop offs and collections.

Children’s safety and security during their time at Puddleducks is our single most important responsibility. Our setting is very secure, with one locked main front door and secure garden areas. All locks and handles are placed high, out of children’s reach. All visitors have to ring our door bell and be let into the building by a member of our team. Visitors are escorted around the building and never unsupervised.

We pride ourselves on being one of very few local nurseries to have CCTV installed throughout our building. CCTV operates throughout our nursery for the safeguarding and protection of children, staff and parents. It drives away burglars, stalkers, vandals and other unwelcome visitors. Images are retained on the system for an extended period of time and then automatically erase.

Images are projected to a very large screen in the office, where they are monitored by management.

Staff are vetted through a thorough selection process. ALL adults working at Puddleducks have had their criminal records checked, and are checked regularly. References are sought from previous employers, and all staff go through an induction period. If staff are found to not meet our expectations, and do not embrace our nursery values and mission statement, we do not hesitate to terminate their employment.

Settling your baby or child effectively with us, is vital in ensuring their long term happiness. We assign every baby a key person, so that one of our team is named as their main carer. We then ensure that a strong bond, or attachment is formed with that adult. We invite babies & children in for short settling in visits prior to starting with us, where they will spend time with their key person. We also do home visits to all of our new babies & children, where the key person and another member of our team will come and see you and your baby at home. All of this contributes to their settling in and getting to know us.

We find this the topic that causes mummies most anxiety. We spend lots of time with you, asking you questions and getting to know your child’s personal routine. We follow that routine at nursery. Your child will be provided with bottles and offered sleep time at the times you have established in your routine at home. Some babies have no routine; others have a very strict one. We will work with you to ensure you and your child are happy, and that we follow their routine at all times.

Calm tranquil rest is a prerequisite for babies and younger children. Our babies benefit from a dedicated, adjoining sleep room equipped with cots and sleep mattresses. Each child has its own bed linen which is regularly laundered in house. We operate rigid and recorded checking procedures and staff supervision; this ensures constant safety and care for your child. At all times we endeavour to adhere to your desired and established sleep patterns and routine.

Older children are also offered sleeps and if they need to nap, they can do so on our portable beds, whenever they need to.