The Heart Behind Snuggly Ducklings
A Message From the Owners
Dear Families,
Welcome to Snuggly Ducklings Day Nursery, we are so pleased you've found us and are considering us as part of your child's early years journey.
At Snuggly Ducklings, we believe childhood should be a time of joy, curiosity and discovery. Our vision is to create a place where children feel safe, happy and excited to explore the world around them; leaving with treasured memories of friendship, adventure and learning that stay with them for years to come.
We also understand how important trust is when choosing a nursery. That's why everything we do is centred around creating a warm, welcoming environment where families feel confident, supported and genuinely involved every step of the way.
Liam brings over 19 years of experience in the early years sector, with a strong understanding of what high-quality childcare looks like in practice. Mitch's background in hospitality complements this with a focus on relationships, communication and creating a setting where every family feels truly welcome and valued.
Together, alongside our dedicated and experienced team, we are proud to be part of a nursery where children are known, cared for and encouraged to thrive every single day.
Liam & Mitch
Our Vision
To create a place where children feel safe, happy and excited to explore the world around them. We want every child to leave our nursery with joyful memories of friendship, adventure and discovery, while parents feel confident their children were cared for, inspired and supported by a passionate, knowledgeable team who keep families involved and informed every step of the way.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide a safe, warm and nurturing environment where children are free to have fun, explore and simply be children. Through play-based learning, creativity, outdoor experiences and storytelling, we support children to develop confidence, independence, communication and strong social skills in line with the Birth to Five Matters framework.
Our Core Values
Safety
Wellbeing and emotional security come first — always
Adventure
Explore, discover and experience through play and outdoor learning
Learning
Play-based experiences that build confidence and key life skills
Relationships
Strong, positive connections at the heart of everything we do
Partnership
Working closely with families — parents involved every step of the way
Growth
Supporting children AND staff to grow in confidence, skills and knowledge
Our Curriculum & Approach
Our Vision
All early years settings in England follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. At Snuggly Ducklings, we don't just meet these standards — we go above and beyond them.
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework as required by Ofsted for all registered early years providers in England.
Communication & Language
Physical Development
Personal Social & Emotional Development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts & Design
Birth to Five Matters
We use Birth to Five Matters as our primary curriculum framework. This non-statutory guidance supports the EYFS and helps our practitioners understand and support children's learning in a way that is responsive, reflective and child-centred. Every child's journey is unique, and our approach celebrates that.
Learning Through Play
Play is a child's work. Whether building in the construction area, exploring textures in the sensory tray, digging in the garden or listening to a story, every moment at Snuggly Ducklings is a learning opportunity.
Our Curriculum &
Approach
Our team is the heart of Snuggly Ducklings. Dedicated, experienced and genuinely passionate; every member of the team shares our values and vision. Strong relationships are at the centre of everything we do.
Staff Credentials
All staff hold a recognised Early Years qualification at Level 2 or above, or are working towards one through an apprenticeship programme
All staff are trained in Paediatric First Aid
All staff complete regular safeguarding and child protection training in line with statutory guidance
Every child is supported by a dedicated key person to ensure strong relationships and continuity of care
All staff hold an Enhanced DBS check and are registered on the DBS Update Service, with ongoing suitability checks in place
Safer recruitment procedures are followed at all times in line with Ofsted requirements
Apprentices are fully supported and always deployed within Ofsted ratio and qualification requirements
Staff receive regular supervision, coaching and performance reviews to support their development and wellbeing
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is embedded across the nursery to ensure best practice is always evolving
Our team receive ongoing training in areas such as child development, behaviour, SEND and early years pedagogy
Leadership and management provide strong oversight, ensuring high standards are consistently maintained
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Gemma Wood / Liam Bardwell | manager@snugglyducklings.co.uk
All practitioners are trained in safeguarding in line with our Local Authority Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures.