Marmalade Duck

Marmalade Duck is an outstanding early years setting operating on a first inspection under the current registration (re-registered 2022). The setting demonstrates exceptional practice across all areas of the November 2025 framework. The legacy OFSTED report used the pre-November 2025 4-area framework (Quality of Education, Behaviour & Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership & Management), all graded Outstanding. These map directly to the new 7-area framework: Quality of Education → Curriculum and Teaching (Outstanding); Behaviour & Attitudes → Behaviour, Attitudes and Establishing Routines (Outstanding); Personal Development → Inclusion and Children's Welfare and Well-being (Outstanding); Leadership & Management → Leadership and Governance (Outstanding). Safeguarding is confirmed as Met. The setting excels in curriculum design, staff expertise, parent partnerships, and child outcomes. Children make 'remarkable progress' with exemplary behaviour and strong emotional well-being support. Staff demonstrate ambitious, well-embedded curriculum delivery with rich learning experiences including weekly clubs (cooking, gardening, sports, ballet). The 'welcome table' innovation shows proactive emotional development support. Language development is a particular strength, with systematic vocabulary teaching and literacy-rich environment. Inclusion is exceptional, with celebration of diversity through family engagement and cultural exploration. Leadership is visionary, with continuous improvement culture and responsive staff development.