A family of ducks have made themselves at home waddling through the corridors of a Ripley primary school.

The mother duck and her four ducklings were first spotted by staff at Ripley Endowed C of E Primary School earlier this week.

The animal family is thought to have nested in the school garden over half-term.

The staff expected them to have made their way down to the river but instead they have made themselves at home; wandering the corridors and hanging out in the playground.

The children have enjoyed getting to know their new classmates. Photograph: Ripley Endowed Primary School, Facebook

Mrs Walker, key stage one teacher, said:

“They clearly feel very at home here. They are totally un-phased having to share the playground and gardens with the children, they have even been venturing into the classrooms and today shared snack time in the sun with our pre-school children.”

The children have been learning about ducks since they arrived and four has become the youngest class’s number of the week.

The school is not unfamiliar to sharing its space with other birds. A family of Swallows regularly return to nest above a classroom door.

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The primary school’s classes are already named after bird species such as Swallows and Starlings. But thanks to their newest members the school’s new pre-school class will go by the name ‘Ducklings’.

Back in April, the school opened its pre-school following the closure of the nearby nursery, Smarties.

Smarties Day Nursery and Pre-School in Ripley is to close next month after operating for more than 30 years.

The nursery currently looks after children aged up to four and also works alongside Ripley Endowed Church of England Primary School to offer a before and after-school club.

The nursery, next to Ripley Store, opened in 1987 and can cater for up to 52 children. It has been under the current management since 2004.

The building itself is part of the Ripley estate and is owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Emma Ingilby.

The nursery has said it is having to close after the owners decided not to renew the lease and use the building for another purpose instead.

Ripley school is in the early stages of planning to provide alternative provision. It has asked parents for their opinions, and hopes to have something in place after the Easter holidays.