Puddleduck Day Nursery and Puddleduck Preschool celebrate positive Ofsted outcomes

Following inspections in July and September 2026, Puddleduck Day Nursery and Puddleduck Preschool have received positive recognition from Ofsted, with safeguarding standards met at both settings.

Located in Ascot, the day nursery feeds into the preschool, offering children a connected journey through the early years as they grow and develop the confidence and skills needed for their next steps in learning.

Puddleduck Day Nursery achieved Expected Standard across all areas, while Puddleduck Preschool achieved Strong Standard in ‘Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines’, ‘Children’s welfare and wellbeing’, and ‘Inclusion’. Both reports highlight the importance of nurturing relationships, supporting children’s individual needs and creating environments where they feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

Helping children feel confident and curious

From exploring dinosaurs and sensory ice to practising counting through everyday activities, children have opportunities to discover new things in meaningful ways. Inspectors also recognised the team’s efforts to celebrate different cultures and backgrounds, including displaying key words in children’s home languages to support every child’s sense of belonging.

At Puddleduck Preschool, an ambitious curriculum encourages children to follow their interests and explore the world around them. Inspectors highlighted the exciting outdoor learning opportunities, particularly in the woodland area, where children search for minibeasts, learn through stories and develop their physical skills through activities such as balancing and threading.

Children are encouraged to share their ideas, work collaboratively and take pride in their achievements. As the report notes, children “beam with pride as they share information about themselves, as well as their accomplishments”.

Putting every child’s wellbeing first

Supporting children’s wellbeing is central to the approach at both settings. At Puddleduck Day Nursery, staff respond sensitively to children’s individual needs, offering reassurance when they encounter unfamiliar experiences and helping them develop confidence and resilience.

Inclusion was a particular strength at Puddleduck Preschool, where staff work closely with families and external professionals to identify children’s needs and provide appropriate support. Quiet spaces help children regulate their emotions, while visual resources and carefully planned activities enable children with additional needs, including those learning English as an additional language, to participate fully.

Across both settings, positive partnerships with families help ensure children receive consistent support. Daily conversations, shared information and opportunities to get involved enable staff and families to work together to support children’s wellbeing, learning and development.

Building strong foundations for the future

At Puddleduck Day Nursery, leaders recognise the importance of strengthening staff knowledge and ensuring interactions and daily routines are consistently effective. At Puddleduck Preschool, leaders use observations, feedback and staff support to identify opportunities to improve teaching and help children make further progress.

This shared commitment reflects the importance of understanding each child as an individual and supporting them as they develop the confidence, communication and social skills needed for their next steps.

Discover Puddleduck

At GrandirUK, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, supported and encouraged to explore their potential. Through nurturing relationships, inclusive experiences and a focus on individual development, Puddleduck Day Nursery and Puddleduck Preschool work to give children positive early experiences and strong foundations for the future.

Book a visit and find out more about Puddleduck Day Nursery and Puddleduck Preschool, the care and educational experiences they offer children and families.

Want to read more?

Read the full Ofsted reports:

• Puddleduck Day Nursery: Read the Ofsted report
• Puddleduck Preschool: Read the Ofsted report