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 121-140
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

My son started Puddelducks in September when he was 18 months old. He has settled in so well and loves going to nursery. I have been really impressed with all the members of staff at Puddleducks. They are so friendly, welcoming and genuine and I love to hear all their stories about what my little boy
has been getting up to! My son's key worker has built a great relationship with him and I feel happy that she is taking good care of him whilst I'm at work. The nursery provides a super range of activities for children, from exploring cooked spaghetti to playing with, cars in shaving foam and all children have access to outdoor play. The meals provided are of great quality and the sleeping wing in the baby room is lovely and calm so I know he is well fed and rested during the day. I would highly recommend Puddleducks to any parent looking for a nursery.

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

Thank you Corrine; it's our pleasure x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending Puddleducks for 4 months now and in that time he has grown in so many ways. Every day is full of activity and learning. He always comes home happy which is a credit to all the staff. It is great to see that the staff treat every child as if they are the most special person
in the world. The 'e-learning book' that is used is a valuable tool for parents to see what goes on during the day and to keep up with the progress of their child. I would not hesitate to recommend Puddleducks to any parent. We go to work and can be sure that our child is safe, happy and learning new skills every day.

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

Thanks Izzy. We love looking after your little man x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My 4 year old little boy has attended Puddleducks since he was 9 months. Leaving your child in the care of someone else, let alone someone you don't really know, is always difficult, but Puddleducks are truly amazing. My boy only attends 2 1/2 days and they know him inside out. They really do take the
time to get to know each individual child and they are great at putting your mind at ease. What I like most about Puddleducks is the caring nature of the staff - they offer great TLC when needed. The new online learning diary allows you to see what your child is doing at nursery and I love watching the videos that are posted. I can't recommend this nursery highly enough. My little girl will start at the nursery later this year and even though we are looking to move further away we will travel to make sure she goes to Puddleducks. A great team, led by a great and well-informed management team.

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

Thank you Ruth x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son (15months) has been attending Puddleducks nursery since last summer and he absolutely loves it! He is always eager to arrive and is clearly happy and settled with all of the staff who support him. His development has come on so well throughout his time there and he thrives on spending time with
other children. All staff are warm and friendly and always have time for sharing information. We never have to worry about him while we are at work, because he is so happy and well cared for (and well fed!). The nursery also uses an excellent online learning log to share his achievements with us. The staff have been extremely flexible and accommodating when we have needed to make changes to our arrangements, which all adds to our experience being so positive. I'm about to start my second maternity leave but will be keeping my son in nursery part time because he enjoys it so much! I cannot recommend Puddleducks highly enough. They're the best!!

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

Thank you Rachel x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is such a wonderful environment for our children. My son has been there for 3 years and adores it. His development in every aspect has come on massively. My daughter has recently joined him here and she absolutely loves it. In even just 3 months, we have seen such a change in her development
too. Both children are loved and cared for. Their interests catered for and their every need met. The staff are just fantastic and universally adored not just by my kids but all the kids there. The bond staff have with the children is so lovely to see. I thank my lucky stars every day that I stumbled across Puddleducks. They make being a working mum so much easier because I know my kids are happy and loved and quite often they don't want to come home!

Reply from Sarah, Yo606pg at Puddleducks Children's Nursery Sheriff Hutton

Thanks Nikki x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is a fantastic nursery and I feel privileged that my child has a place here. The staff are excellent, they are friendly, compassionate and supportive towards children and parents. My daughter thoroughly enjoys going, she has improved physically, intellectually and emotionally in such a short space
of time.

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

Thank you for your lovely review.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending Puddleducks for over a year now and in that time she has come on in all aspects of her development. When dropping off/picking up she's always in a fab mood and at times doesn't want to come home, this speaks volumes for the staff and environment provided by the nursery.
I'm so pleased with the kind, talkative and gentle nature she has and I have no doubt a vast majority of this is a result of her time at Puddleducks. The staff and owner are polite and friendly and we just had that feeling as soon as we walked through the door that she was going to be well cared for. There is so much for her to do and opportunities for her to get involved in activities she wouldn't be doing at home. The communication between myself, owner and staff taking care of her is reassuring and comforting we made the right decision in sending her here. I can't thank them all enough for there daily input and involvement in moulding our little girl into the lovely little lady she is today.

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

Thanks Andy. Glad you are so pleased with our service!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My boys absolutely love going to Puddleducks. It's everything you could wish for in a nursery, lots of play and learning all in a fantastic environment. Would recommend to anyone looking for a 5* nursery!

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

Thank you Kayley. We love looking after your two monkeys!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter and twin sons have been attending Puddleducks for just over a month and I couldn't be happier with my choice of nursery. The children have settled in with no problems at all and enjoy their days within the setting. All of the staff are friendly and happy towards all the children and parents,
at all times.
The setting is always clean and presentable, although my children always come home in a change of clothes, because they've got messy some how having fun. I do not feel guilty for them being in childcare when I know they have such good fun and are learning too. The nursery concept is one I like and works well with the children too, they move freely around their areas and know how to get what they need when needed. I'm glad I made the choice of Puddleducks for my children.

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

Thank you for your kind words Angharad....your children are a pleasure x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After having my second child only 13 months after having my first child and a husband away on military deployment, I needed help! I was quite anxious about putting my child into nursery because I'd not left him with anyone other than my parents. The staff are lovely, always very attentive and they
provide a huge variety of toys, activities and opportunities for the babies. My child particularly enjoys being outside and the babies go outside most days and play in a lovely outside space with plants and mud and water and slides etc. They always apply sun cream and wear hats. I love the reading area in the nursery and the babies always read books, sing and dance. The bubble machine goes down particularly well too, so much so that we've had to buy one at home! My child is dairy intolerant and the nursery chef always accommodates his needs by either doing something separate for him or making a slight alteration to the main meal so he can have virtually the same as the other children. She even makes dairy free cake!

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

Thanks Amy. I'm so pleased you feel this way about the care A receives! x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We as parents have been extremely impressed with Puddleducks. Our 6 month old daughter has been going since April and loves coming to see all the staff who work here. We have been very happy with the way they treat the children and how much it seems to have brought our little one on, with having extra
resources we don't have at home.

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

Thank you for your kind words Sam! It is our pleasure to care for your beautiful baby girl! x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy has been coming to Puddleducks for 6 months now and I couldn't be any more happier with the exceptional standard of care he receives whilst at nursery. The staff are amazing and my little boy has a fantastic bond with his key person. They cater to his needs on a daily basis and it's great
to see him so happy each time I drop him off and pick him up. I couldn't recommend Puddleducks enough they are utterly outstanding!!!

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

Aw, thanks for your lovely words Tash. We love looking after your little man!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started at 9 months old and has settled in amazingly. The staff are kind and thoughtful and have taken time to get to know my daughter and I don't mind leaving her there in the morning. The nursery is flexible and understanding and I feel part of their extended family, as does my daughter
who is always so happy when I see her there.

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

Thank you Cat for your lovely review of our nursery!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks has offered my son a safe and nurturing environment. He has been at Puddleducks since he was 9 months old and the team in the baby room made the settling in period and my subsequent return to work very easy. They are incredibly professional, offer the highest standard of care and actively
involve the parents. The atmosphere is relaxed and family focused and it is clear the staff are proud to work there. There is a huge focus of fun and stimulating the children, and the children are encouraged to be creative and messy. My son goes there happily every morning and this is the main thing for me. Also the food is home cooked and amazing.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I could not have wished for a better child care provider than Puddleducks Children's Nursery. My youngest three children all started at Puddleducks soon after it opened in 2012, one into the pre-school room and my youngest two into the baby room. My children have had a wonderful time at Puddleducks
everyday they have been; the staff are a caring, warm hearted and dynamic group of people and the environment is one of excitement and security. The owner ensures that all her staff believe in her values and mission of Puddleducks being a home from home which means that as children move from room to room the transition is smooth and children settle quickly with new staff.
I have seen my children grow and develop over the last three and a half years supported by inspirational staff and activities. No experience is ever too difficult to arrange or too time consuming to explore at Puddleducks. Over the years my children have amongst other things been on a river boat trip, visited Father Christmas, sold cakes to local businesses for charity, had visits from reindeer, guide dogs and creepy crawlies had weekly football coaching sessions and been on many a very muddy walk through puddles. Whether the children's interest that week is space or dinosaurs or being a car mechanic the team will put their ideas into action and within hours the children will be climbing into cardboard box rockets, playing in a dinosaur garden or fixing a car in the Puddleducks garage.
If you are looking for a nursery where children and their ideas and their development really do come first then I recommend you visit. I cannot thank the owner and her dedicated team enough for the enjoyment they have given my children, and for the amount of muddy clothes I have washed over the years!

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

Thank you so much for your lovely words! You were one of the very first mummy's to trust us with your children when we first opened our doors in 2012. What a pleasure it has been to work with your delightful family. I am so pleased you feel so happy with our service!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is an extremely impressive and caring nursery and I have no hesitations in recommending it to other parents. My daughter started in the baby room and subsequently transitioned into the toddler room. She settled very quickly into nursery life and the nursery staff helped us to prepare for
each transition so that it felt safe for my daughter. The proprietor of the nursery is a talented and inspiring woman. She has hired an equally strong team to run and work in each of the rooms. The staff are professional, caring, creative, fun and passionate about what they do. I really enjoy going into the room in the morning to see what has been planned for the little ones. The activities they have planned and set up are so creative.


The team have always honoured my daughters home routine and replicated that during nursery hours so that it is as much home from home as possible. They regularly ask me for my daughters current interests so that they can design activities that take those into account. I feel that there is a strong partnership between the parents and the nursery to support every child's development. The meals provided for the children are all cooked freshly on site and a new appetising menu is published regularly, my daughter always eats very well on nursery days!! In addition the Manager openly shares with parents her plans for the nursery's developments and also staff developments, and as a parent, this makes my husband and I feel like our daughter is in very good hands.


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

Thank you Hannah for your kind words. x


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Puddleducks is an amazing place for children to develop and grow as individuals as well as make new friends. The team are dedicated to the children and make all learning fun and interactive,including with the parents. My daughter is in the baby room and has flourished since day one, the staff work
closely to get to know the babies individually and adapt to their learning. All activities are reported to parents so we can continue the same things at home but also let parents update input on their child's current likes and dislikes. An amazing nursery and team,recommend to anyone.

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

Thank you for your lovely words Bryony! Your family are a pleasure to work with.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery offers an excellent standard of care; staff are professional and caring. My oldest daughter loved the nursery and developed in the setting, she was confident, and independent, her communication skills were excellent and she made some excellent friends, and by the time she went to school
she was so confident - it was lovely to see. My youngest daughter is in the baby room. She is happy and content and staff are excellent at helping children settle in. She has flourished in the setting, she is happy to go to nursery, she enjoys her time there. Staff communicate fully with parents and there is a real sense of care for the children. I would strongly recommend the nursery to any parents. The nursery setting is clean and welcoming, there is a sense that staff really enjoy their job and develop strong bonds with the children.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little girl started nursery at Puddleducks in September & loves going to nursery. The Manager & all the staff are absolutely fantastic with both children & parents. The staff all know my daughter by name even if they do not look after her & her key person is fantastic with her, I have total confidence
walking away & leaving her there knowing that she is 100% happy & in the best possible care. The nursery have also worked wonders with my little girls speech which is an on going process, they go the extra mile to work with me as her parent so we are all on the same page with this.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are so happy with Puddleducks and feel very lucky to have found such a caring, pro-active nursery for our son. It was really important we found the best setting for our little boy who has additional needs, we did quite an extensive search of surrounding nurseries and Puddleducks was by far the best
choice. We feel the Manager and the team go above and beyond for our son and we could not be happier with the care and support we receive for him and us. Our little boy is eager to arrive at Puddleducks and has built up really strong relationships with his key worker and the rest of the team, he engages in lots of fun activities and always has a big smile on his face when I pick him up! The communication between nursery and home is brilliant and I love to see regular photo updates of him and all his friends on Facebook. We cannot praise Puddleducks enough for all their hard work and enthusiasm, we feel reassured to have their support.

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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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