Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton

7 Alan Farnaby Way, Sheriff Hutton, York YO60 6PG
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10 142 Reviews
Puddleducks Children's Nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted March 2019 and is a multi award winning nursery having been placed in the top 10 nurseries in Yorkshire in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The nursery is owned by an ambitious, experienced primary school teacher. She opened the nursery in 2012, when she had been searching for a nursery for her own little boy. Using her vision and values as a qualified teacher and parent, she created a nursery where every individual baby and child receives unrivalled care. An exceptional curriculum is in place, which ensures children receive a challenging learning experience that prepares them exceptionally well for school.

What is immediately evident is the owner's exceptionally high expectations and drive for the highest standards. The fantastic environment is best appreciated in person.

Puddleducks is conveniently located and easily accessible from many surrounding villages, and on the main commuter route to York for many rural residents.

A very highly qualified, dedicated team provide a homely, warm and caring environment for babies and children. The nursery has strong links with local primary schools, supporting its preschool children and preparing them for school.

The nursery prides itself on the strong parent partnerships that have been achieved through involving parents in all aspects of the children's learning and development.

The indoor and outdoor environments are rich with homely furnishings and equipment. Children have access to an extensive range of resources, and enjoy a variety of interesting, engaging activities on a daily basis. Children enjoy regular outings and visits, which enriches their experiences further.

Robust safeguarding procedures are a priority of the team, creating a safe, secure environment where parents can be sure their children get the very best care and developmental opportunities.
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Care Provided by Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care
  • Person in charge
  • Sarah Kelly (Managing Director)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 22
  • Total Places for Children
  • 65
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 0 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton

  • Babies and toddlers up to 36 months £65.00 per day (7.30-18.00).
    Preschool children aged 36 months and over £63.00 per day (7.30-18.00).
    Government funding is available and applied to reduce daily fees. Further information about funding is available on request.
    Fee info correct at September 2023


  • Fees are reviewed annually and adjusted in line with inflation.


  • Parking
  • Puddleducks has a private car park, and is situated in a quiet business park away from the main roads.


Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton Reviews (142)

Total of 142, showing 101-120
10

Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton has a Review Score of 10 (9.986) out of 10, based on 35 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton has 142 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is a fantastic nursery with fantastic staff. The nursery setting is great for all children. I have 2 boys that have attended the nursery since they were small starting in the baby room and following all the way to the preschool room. I view Puddleducks staff as an extension of our family.
They are all kind, warm people who have so much time for the children. The children benefit from large spaces to play indoor and outdoors, lots of different activities, an in-house cook that makes them amazing food and a support network that help them to grow and develop. I would recommend the nursery to everyone.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is a wonderful nursery, I have and will continue to recommend to friends and anyone that is looking for a safe, happy and loving environment for their child.
Our original reasons for nursery was the fact that our daughter has two siblings but a lot older so felt it important that she mixed
with other children her own age, however, she has gained so much more than just making friends. Her development has come on leaps and bounds and although we spend a lot of time with her you know your own child and what has come from you and what she has picked up elsewhere.
The staff are fantastic, the children are clearly more than just another child, our daughter is as happy to see her carer as she is to see family members and as a parent, I'm very comfortable to talk to the management about any concerns if I have any.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is a fantastic nursery that I would recommend to any parent. I go to work with complete peace of mind that my son is receiving the best care possible, from the bond he has with his key worker to the varied activities (inside and outdoors), extensive menu and all the health and safety measures
that are in place I am more than happy!
The communication and weekly newsletters are also great!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have already recommended the nursery to friends and a couple of my friends' children go there now. It's a lovely nursery. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. My child has learnt so much and this has definitely come from being at nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am so grateful someone recommended Puddleducks nursery to me because it is incredible. My daughter started there a few months ago and not only does she love it, I've been nothing but impressed with Puddleducks too. The staff, the manager, the facilities, the food etc are all just second to none
and I couldn't recommend it more!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is an amazing nursery and we would recommend it to anyone we know.
My son loves going, he talks about the staff and his friends constantly and is very fond of his little nursery family.
Communication is very good and staff listen to us and work with us to ensure my child's every need
is catered for and that home and nursery life are as close as possible. Staff show an interest in his home life and his interests and plan for that.
The food is brilliant and the range of activities is great. He is encouraged to be independent, play together, learn and explore.
It is a lovely nurturing environment, with highly skilled, passionate and caring staff. I look forward to picking him up on a night and hearing about the exciting things that he has been doing and is going to do.
The online learning journey is excellent and allows us an extra little insight into his nursery life.
We will all be very sad when he moves on to school.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks has welcomed both my little girl and our family with the warmest of open arms. They offer a broad range of activities which allow the little time ones to develop through fun and play (baby and toddler room experience) and have heavily supported my little girl in her transition into the toddler
room.


The communication is free flowing both at drop off/pick up times and activities are well documented - I love seeing what she has been up to on the photo portal. They are also very interested in your home life/routine to incorporate that into nursery life which I find very reassuring. It is not their way or the highway which leads to very happy children! A world away from rooms of screaming unsettled children which is the fear when first entering the world of nurseries.


They offered very practical and sensible advice at the beginning to help my child settle in when she was struggling and this not only worked but she now barely looks back! Straight into the messy play or outside!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our one-year-old boy quite simply LOVES Puddleducks, and we as parents do too. He has been going since September 2017 and in this time has already progressed so much developmentally and socially. As first-time parents, we were super anxious about leaving our “baby” but all the staff have been wonderful
and after a few weeks settling in our son points at nursery as soon as we arrive and is eager to go in and play with his friends. The online diary means we can read and see photos of what he gets up to and how it relates to early years learning framework and how we can support his learning at home.
All the staff are friendly well presented and knowledgeable. Management is helpful and approachable.
The nursery is clean tidy and well equipped and food served on site is nutritious and good variety.
We are pleased we chose Puddleducks as the nursery to help shape our son's future and would highly recommend to others.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is fantastic. My son loves his time at nursery and is always excited to go. The staff are very nurturing, loving, fun and kind towards him and he has a fantastic bond with his key person which is a peace of mind. I would highly recommend Puddleducks to anyone looking for a nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I was very concerned with leaving my son at nursery (as every parent is) but from the first step through the front door I felt immediately reassured. All the staff are warm and welcoming, and all the babies/children are smiling/laughing and most importantly, engaged in some sort of meaningful activity.
Over the two years, my son has been going to Puddleducks, he has brought home all sorts of biscuits, cakes, presents and pictures that he has made, little things like that keep reassuring me that he is learning and having fun.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks really is outstanding! From our first contact with the nursery just under a year ago, we have been overwhelmed by the kindness and helpfulness of the staff, which comes as a direct result of the dedication and commitment that the manager has to childcare. The nursery is friendly, welcoming
and homely, whilst also maintaining an excellent learning environment where my daughter has truly flourished. The staff all show a real passion for their work which is reflected in the happiness of the children. After a short period of illness, my daughter and I turned once again into Alan Farnaby Way and her face just lit up - 'There's nursery!' she said, with a huge beaming smile. She missed it enormously and couldn't wait to go back. Who could ask for more?

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks has been excellent for my 4-year-old! They conducted 2 home visits to make sure he settled in well and made sure the visiting staff were his key workers. The activities are well planned and include lots of outdoor play, as well as this my son takes part in 2 clubs at Puddleducks (baking
and football) and has made lots of friends. He enjoys the variety of pets they have and has learned how to take care of them too. The indoor and outdoor equipment is great and is updated on a rolling basis so everything is fresh! The food is varied and made on site which is perfect. All the staff know my son by name and provide excellent care which has really helped him feel at home and look forward to his Puddleduck days! Highly recommended!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery is just amazing The staff are so caring and passionate about the children they look after. Always full of energy and making sure the children are not just looked after but are having a fab time! I'm always amazed that at 5pm when I'm shattered, the children are so engaged in a magical story
being told with such enthusiasm and props that they don't even notice any mummies entering the room!
The food is delicious and our son always has seconds, plenty of extra activities even trips out with lots of toddlers!
On a personal note, this nursery has been a life line to our family, my son has special needs and the manager and her team have been a huge support to us. Not just caring for our son but supporting us as a family through our journey and we couldn't have done it with out them! We feel completely relaxed knowing that he is in safe hands and that his development is constantly progressing through fun learning and play.
We would highly recommend this fabulous nursery without a doubt!!!

Reply from Sarah Kelly, Nursery owner at Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton

Mel, it is our pleasure to have your lovely little boy in our care, and I am so pleased we are able to be such a support to you and your family.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We couldn't be happier with all the staff and our little daughter's experiences at Puddleducks. The personal touch and attention to detail make dropping off our firstborn so much easier. Whenever you call there is always a friendly reassuring voice at the end of the phone to put your mind at rest about
how she is settling in.
We also find with both of us being self-employed, the ease of and flexibility Puddleducks offer makes our work more manageable.
No inconvenience seems too much for the manager and her team.
We thoroughly recommend Puddleducks to any nervous and cautious parents just like we were.
You can leave your child knowing that they are in great hands.

Reply from Sarah Kelly, Nursery Owner at Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton

Thank you Jenny.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy is always very happy at Puddleducks and was well supported with settling in - he has made lovely relationships with staff and peers. Parents are kept well informed on important issues and also are well included in the child's experiences at nursery and get the chance to join in with special
events.


The team are dedicated and professional and the communication about how my child is getting on at nursery has been brilliant. I also would like to praise the staff on what I have seen of their skills in early years - with how they respond to each child's interest with such imagination and scope for the child to learn with such enjoyment- with resources but also their wonderful way of interacting with the children- (I particularly loved the firemen ideas- my little boy was in his element!) We are very happy with Puddleducks and would highly recommend it.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since my 1-year-old boy started Puddleducks Nursery, his confidence and development has really grown. His relationship with his key worker is great and he has gained great trust in her and the nursery itself. As a parent, I was very anxious when leaving my little boy to go back to work and the nurseries
approach to this was comforting and reassuring after many settling in sessions and a home visit. I was looking for a nursery with a gentle baby/child led approach and I feel I have found this with Puddlesducks.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are really happy with the nursery. The staff are lovely and helped my child settle in well. The activities seem good and varied and the online journal is very helpful. The meals and room set up in the areas are also very well done.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The thought of putting my baby in a nursery was awful, I didn't think I would be able to leave my little girl.
I was recommended to try Puddleducks Day Nursery.
From my initial call, to viewing, to my daughter's first visit, all of this was handled with great care. They understood how difficult
this experience was for the parent as well as the baby.
My daughter loves this nursery, her key worker is just fantastic and all of the staff acknowledge her every day (and know her name) Even staff who look after the different age groups.
The way the nursery is run is just brilliant, I would (and regularly do) recommend this nursery , both me and my daughter are very lucky to have found it!

Reply from Sarah Kelly, Nursery owner at Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton

Thank you Kayleigh. x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Ever since my son started at Puddleducks the care that he has received has been excellent. As a mother, I was apprehensive at first, which I think all mothers can relate to, but the staff and management there have made this process the easiest it could be. He's settled in extremely well and loves going
to nursery. This is solely down to how warm and friendly the staff are.
They are absolutely brilliant with him.
The facilities that they have mean he always has something fun to do but is learning all the time. Since he started there his development has been so much quicker than it was before. I absolutely love how informed I am of what he has done, through the conversations with staff when I pick him up but also his e-learning journal.
I know that when I leave him he is in a safe and happy environment where he is surrounded by people that care for him. I cannot recommend this place enough!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both myself and my husband have been thrilled with the care that our daughter has received at Puddleducks. She really enjoys it and we've been very fortunate not to have tears when we've left her, and she is quite often too interested in the activities and games that she doesn't notice when we're there
to pick her up! The staff in the baby room go above and beyond and it's wonderful to leave your little one in the hands of people you trust.

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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.986)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.986) out of 10 for Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 35 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 35 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 4.986 for Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton is calculated as follows: ( (414 Excellents x 5) + (6 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 420 Ratings = 4.986

  • 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 Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton is based on 35 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 65 number of registered child places is 13, which has been reached with 35 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.

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Awards / Recognitions (11)

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Meet the Team (1)

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Sarah Kelly

Job Title: Owner Manager

Joined: 2012

Sarah is an experienced Primary School teacher, with over 8 years experience across the primary age range. She has two little ones of her own, now aged 4 and a new baby. Having her own babies sparked her interest in and commitment to opening her own children's nursery. This became a reality on 25th June 2012 when, after many months of planning, Sarah opened Puddleducks Nursery.

Sarah's Qualifications:
BA Hons Primary Education
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Pediatric First Aid
Food Hygiene
Safeguarding children Level 2
Safer recruitment

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