Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast

Grosvenor House, 5 Glengall Street, Belfast BT12 5AD
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9.9 121 Reviews
  • Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast, Belfast
Puddleducks Day Nursery is a new state-of-the-art day nursery in Belfast city centre, providing busy working parents with a convenient childcare solution. The modern, purpose built day Nursery, located on Glengall Street caters for 0-4 year olds. It is located just 2 minutes' waddle from Grand Central Station and is easily accessed via the main motorway links... this makes it an attractive option for city centre workers.

Puddleducks offers four bespoke rooms: 2 for babies (0-2 years); toddlers (2-3 years); pre-school (3-4 years), a large indoor play area and a secure outdoor play area.

Run by highly qualified and trained childcare professionals, the nursery also provides nutritionally balanced meals and flexible contract terms to suit varying childcare needs.

Puddleducks has been created by Belfast Central Mission (BCM), one of NI’s oldest charities which has over 50 years’ experience in childcare, and will be run as a social enterprise, with all profits being invested back into the charitable work.

Care Provided by Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Owner
  • BCM
  • Person in charge
  • Sharon Malcolm (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 19
  • Registered Charity Number
  • NIC101271
  • Total Places for Children
  • 70
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 4 years 10 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-17:30
    Tuesday 08:00-17:30
    Wednesday 08:00-17:30
    Thursday 08:00-17:30
    Friday 08:00-17:30
  • When Closed
  • New Years Day, St Patricks Day, Easter Monday & Tuesday, May Day, 12th & 13th July, August Bank Holidays (end of month) & 1 week Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast

  • Full Time: £1,200 per month (5 full days per week) or £955.00 (5 x 1/2 days per week)
    Part Time (full day) £61.50 per day
    Part Time (half day) £47.00 per 1/2 day


  • Puddleducks is registered with the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) which could offer you an additional 15% discount on your fees.


  • Parking
  • Parking for pick-up and drop-off is available on site.


Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast Reviews (121)

Total of 121, showing 41-60
9.9

Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.934) out of 10, based on 19 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast has 121 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My family is so grateful for Puddleducks. The whole team at the nursery feels family to my daughter now, and she is always super excited to go as she has so much fun doing all the activities and playing in the fantastic outdoor space, which is sheltered and means she gets out all year round, which is
great as she loves the outdoors. We have really noticed a difference in her speech and how she interacts with other children since she started. The app which the nursery uses allows us to follow her day, and gives us great peace of mind not that we need it as we can tell when collecting her she’s had a fab day as she simply doesn’t want to ever come home!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been in Puddleducks since she was 15 months old - she is now 3. She has grown so much in confidence during this time. She has developed new skills and had the opportunity to socialise with her peers, which has been especially beneficial during lockdown. She gets on really well with the
staff and enjoys her time at nursery. The staff have been great at making her feel part of the Puddleducks family and taking the time to teach her. I recommend Puddleducks if you work in Belfast as it is easy to get to, the facilities are good and the staff are friendly and welcoming.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending Puddleducks since he was 10 months old (he is now 3.5 years) and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The staff are excellent - they all have a genuine interest in the children and their development, are incredibly caring and creative in providing a fun and stimulating environment
for the children. I love checking in on my son via the MyNursery app to see what he has been up to and they have a wide range of activities throughout the day. Puddleducks has a great outdoor area and the food is also a big hit with my son, he often has extras! I feel totally at ease leaving my son off each day at Puddleducks and he has made some great friends while there. I have been so impressed at how much my son's speech and language have come in over the past year and I put that partly down to Puddleducks - the children do reading, singing, dancing and lots of other great activities to help them develop. Highly recommend!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My wee boy loves Puddleducks. There are so many activities which they are encouraged to do. If he's upset, he's showered with love and cuddles. He's mostly in smiles. He loves the outdoor playtime the most. His meals are monitored and updated on the app regularly. Gives me an idea on how well he's eating.
Medications are also administered with care and permissions. Every staff member is approachable and friendly.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son returned to Puddleducks in February 2021 after spending over a year at home with me in the pandemic. The whole year had some impact on him, he became very shy and anxious around new people and in a crowd and does not like to talk in front of other people. The staff in Puddleducks truly understands
the situation and have made lots of effort to bring a sensitive boy out of his shell. The staff are very caring and patient, they have offered my son space when he needed it, and gentle nudge when he was on the edge to try something new but dare not to. Puddleducks also provided flexibility for us to change days to suit our needs. They responded to my concerns of my son's situation timely and professionally and worked closely with me to help him adjust to this new chapter of his life. They pay attention to his likes and engage him in different activities. Over the past few months, I have seen exciting progress. I could not thank Puddleducks enough.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I was extremely anxious to leave my son at any daycare however after his first day, my fears vanished. Every single member of the Puddleducks team is kind, warm and friendly. My baby has learnt and grown so much under the girls care. Putting him in Puddleducks has been the best decision I could have
made for him. The girls go above and beyond with the care. The babies get the chance to do so many activities from painting to music. They also get to play outside every day which I love! During the day while I am working, I receive so many updates about my child via the app. This is so reassuring to know how much he is eating, sleeping and well pooing too! I also get wee photos and it is such a joy seeing my baby having so much fun! This is so valuable and something I did not receive in his previous daycare. I have to say Puddleducks have adapted successfully to keep the staff and children safe in terms of COVID 19 and government guidelines. I cannot recommend Puddleducks enough.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks day nursery is a unique and personal place. It has the children at the heart of everything they do. It’s a fun and dynamic nursery that encourages open ended play and exploration. Our son has been going for 2 years and has always received exceptional care. He is really happy there. After
March 2020 lockdown the nursery remained in contact and rapidly adapted to a new way of working and providing care within the constraints of this pandemic. I highly recommend Puddleducks.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The best thing about Puddleducks isn’t just how happy my son is to go each morning but how fantastic the staff are. Whether it was the nerves of leaving my son on his first day or reintroducing him after lockdown, they could not be more patient or understanding. They also really care about the children
in their care and make the effort to know the parents too. There is constantly a range of activities to keep him interested and his speech and development continue to improve. My Nursery Pal app is fantastic and is constantly updated with information and pictures. If I have more children, I will 100% be sending them to Puddleducks!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would highly recommend this nursery to any parent trying to decide if it’s best for their child. The growth and development I have seen in my own son in the 6 months he has been attending has been enormous. He absolutely loves going to nursery and loves the staff that do an excellent job taking care
of him. Each morning he skips in excited for the day ahead and mummy doesn’t even get a glance back, this is testament to the staff and the work they do in making the environment one of fun, loving and learning. As a first time mum returning to work I was apprehensive leaving my son in the care of others but the My Nursery Pal App that Puddleducks use is great at keeping me informed throughout the day of his activities. The nursery has also taken the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the children, parents and staff throughout the COVID pandemic which is reassuring in these difficult times. All in all, we love it!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I can only say good things about Puddleducks! Staff go above and beyond and make it a fun, nurturing and safe space. Our daughter has loved every minute of being there. We love hearing about all the fun she has had on the drive home. My son has just started too, and we know he is going to thrive in
the environment Puddleducks provides.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks has been a lifesaver for us. We can go to work with the knowledge that our son is safe and happy. My son enjoys his time there as he is given the freedom to explore and enjoy so many activities daily. I love the fact that I get to see updates on what he’s been up to while I’m sitting at
work and I’m always looking forward to seeing his pictures while he’s enjoying his playtime or his lunch which is prepared in-house. The care providers are all really gentle and sweet and they take the time to update us on his day.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Every morning my daughter is happy to go to Puddleducks. She likes her teachers and many activites they prepare for kids. Food is good as she eats extra at almost every meal! I am very happy with this nursery!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks really is like a home from home to my daughter now. Since she joined the nursery last year we have noticed such a difference in her confidence as she has become so independent now. The structure and routine of the nursery has been great for her and it’s brilliant to see all the activities
she gets up to on the My Nursery Pal App. I know how much she loves Puddleducks as she runs straight over to the girls in the morning when we arrive and has never looked back since she started!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery has excellent facilities but the staff are by far the best thing about PuddleDucks. They are so caring towards the children. The day my little son sat up on his own for the first time and they were telling me about it when I was collecting him, they were so genuinely pleased and excited
for him. The My Nursery Pal app is fantastic, there are regular updates for parents throughout the day with lots of photos and details about what they had for breakfast, lunch and snack time. I have been very impressed with the variety of food on offer. There are regular craft and messy play activities and chances to play outside. My little boy shouts and laughs when I drive through the car park gate in the morning. He is so happy there and I am happy leaving him and going to work knowing that whatever activities are planned he's going to have a great day.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started at Puddleducks at 9 months old and has been there for over 2 years. The staff are all fantastic. The nursery is very well run with a lot of different activities organised every day. She loves going to Puddleducks and has learnt so much. I felt very comfortable while at work knowing
that she was being well looked after. I would highly recommend Puddleducks to anyone.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks has been the most lovely discovery for our family over the last eighteen months. It is such a peaceful and well-organised nursery, with beautiful art and displays that change regularly. You can just tell that the staff really enjoy their job and the children. One staff member said to me
that they think it's the best model of practice and they wouldn't and couldn't work anywhere else after being in Puddleducks. It has a lovely ethos about emotional expression and regulation, equipping children and staff to live with their feelings. One of the cutest things in the baby room is that they all have their own chairs and no straps to stop everyone getting upset at snack times and meal times. It's small enough that you can get to know everyone who works there, and there aren't loads of people and children coming and going. As someone who was (and is) really emotional about leaving my baby in childcare, the staff were able to (and continue to) put all my fears at ease.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The manager and all the staff at Puddleducks are truly amazing. Our daughter started during the lockdown and so much thought and effort went into ensuring a smooth transition, recognising how the lockdown rules made this more difficult for those first few days. She loves Puddleducks, she is so excited
to go and all the photos/updates during the day show her involved in lots of different activities and being so loved, nurtured and cared for. We dont worry about her when she is there, and know she is having the best time and that peace of mind is priceless, especially at the moment when times are that bit tougher for everyone. There is always a vibe of great fun and happiness at Puddleducks, and the staff clearly dote over all the children. They really get to know their wee personalities and love telling you about little special moments that day. She is also offered very balanced meals, has her nap times, is kept impeccably clean and has outdoor play every day too. We couldn't be happier!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our little girl has been going to Puddlegucks since she was 17-months-old. She is thriving here and loves coming in in the mornings. It's a lovely environment, the right balance of stimulating play and lots of care and affection. I'd recommend it to anyone.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started here in July 2020 at 20 months and it was the best decision I ever made! The staff instantly made me feel at ease leaving him here whilst working. They are a very accommodating nursery offering multiple drop off and pick up times. The prices are justified just seeing how happy my son
is when he knows he is going and his development has massively improved from joining the Puddleducks family! When I have future children I know they will also be attending here and the attention to detail in the mynurserypal app is outstanding, from details on the food eaten (which is of amazing variety and nutritional value) to nap times and how engaged he is in certain activities - the list goes on and on. I am 100% happy with the service all the staff provide and they do an outstanding job with each and every child!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child started with Puddleducks when he was 2.5 years, a year later, we are still here. I had such reservations about placing him in daycare, but from the first day, he was treated with such care and kindness he fitted right in, I couldn't believe how easy the transition was. He's a thriving child,
his interactions with the other children have given him such confidence, and he's very content to go in every day announcing to everyone that will listen that he is a 'wee duckling.'


The staff are so wonderful; they all possess such warmth with the children, and it's easy to see they are so well-loved and trusted. The 'child-centred' ethos is what drew me to Puddleducks, and the effort that goes into the environment and experience for the children is exceptional. I couldn't recommend it highly enough to be honest. My child has always received such compassionate care, and I view it as the next best thing to him being at home. He never stops talking about his favourite staff member or friends!


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.934)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.934) out of 10 for Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 19 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 19 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.934 for Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast is calculated as follows: ( (213 Excellents x 5) + (13 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 227 Ratings = 4.934

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Puddleducks Day Nursery Belfast is based on 19 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 70 number of registered child places is 14, which has been reached with 19 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (14)

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Meet the Team (5)

Sharon

Sharon Malcolm

Job Title: Manager

Joined: 2012

Sharon has worked in the early years sector for over 20 years and has managed Puddleducks since it opened in 2012.


She is passionate about maximising the potential of all children in her care and has a particular interest in a child's emotional well-being, understanding that this is a fundamental area of child development to 'get right' in the very early years.


She has 2 children Evan & Connie, a puppy Archie and Garfield the cat!


Sharon loves the North coast and enjoys nothing more than a long dander on the beach with her children and Archie... finishing off with a bite to eat in the Harbour bistro!


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Vicki Watton

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2012

Vicki has been working in Puddleducks since we 1st opened our doors back in 2012. She has a logical and methodical approach to her work and will go out of her way to offer support and guidance to any of the team, for which many of the team are grateful.


Vicki has worked closely with Sharon over the last 10 years to develop 'The Puddleducks Approach' to care and learning. She is passionate about Puddleducks being the best for all of the children who attend and works tirelessly to ensure best practice is implemented on a daily basis.


Outside of work, most of Vicki's time is spent with her nieces and nephews who she just loves to spoil.


Aynsley

Aynsley Brown

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2016

Aynsley started in Puddleducks as a Nursery Assistant back in 2016 but she demonstrated strong leadership qualities and was soon promoted to Room Supervisor. In 2020, after successfully completing her Level 5 Play-work, she was promoted to Deputy Manager.


Aynsley's experience from completing the Playwork course has been beneficial to all of Puddleducks. She has shared her learning with all of the team and recognises the importance of purposeful play, loose parts in the play and managed risk-taking.


Aynsley has such a bubbly fun-filled personality which makes her impossible not to love!


She is a proud Mum to her baby boy Orson and makes the most of her spare time making wonderful memories as a family.


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Zoe Haire

Job Title: Room Supervisor

Joined: 2019

Zoe was promoted to Room Supervisor within 4 months of starting in Puddleducks back in 2019. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in their early years having worked in the sector for more than 10 years. Zoe has an eye for detail and makes sure that everything is 'just right' for all of the children under her care and supervision.


Zoe is the besotted Mum of Mya-Jayne (who comes to work with her mummy) and loves nothing more than family time with her, her partner and her dogs!


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Lois Carson

Job Title: Room Supervisor

Joined: 2018

Lois has been part of our Puddleducks family since 2018. She came to us as a student on placement when she was studying for her foundation degree in Early Childhood Studies (ECS). During college holidays, she worked as a nursery assistant and then was offered a full-time post on completion of her ECS course.


Lois has a very calming influence on the children and the rest of the team and finds the positives in every situation. When the opportunity for promotion came along, there was no hesitation in offering the role of Room Supervisor to Lois.


Lois is a keen skateboarder and loves getting to the beach where she enjoys surfing and bodyboarding! She also enjoys helping out at her parent's farm at the weekends.