Opening hours
Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm.
The Willow Tree Private Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2024)
Number of places
75 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2024
Local authority
Wakefield
About this day nursery
The Willow Tree Nursery, established in January 2023 by Christina, draws on her extensive two decades of experience in education, encompassing roles as a primary school teacher in both England and the UAE, a GCSE tutor, and an adult education trainer. Prior to founding The Willow Tree, Christina also launched Tina's Tots in Rothwell in 2019.
The nursery's overarching mission is to cultivate a community of enthusiastic, lifelong learners who are eager to explore new concepts and broaden their perspectives. They are committed to fostering an environment where a diverse team of staff, ranging from new apprentices to seasoned qualified teachers, cares for each child as if they were their own, providing foundational learning blocks and nurturing a lifelong love for learning.
The Willow Tree Nursery aims to offer inclusive, universal provision where all staff are dedicated to the holistic growth and development of every child, regardless of their background, ability, or circumstances. Children are encouraged to build confidence, resilience, knowledge, skills, and understanding as they progress through the different rooms, with daily opportunities for learning, sharing, and caring.
The nursery's values emphasise confidence, independence, responsibility, equality, inclusion, belonging, strong relationships, democratic practice, and smooth transitions and continuity, all while working collaboratively with parents.
Our ethos
The Willow Tree Nursery is committed to fostering a community of lifelong learners who are eager to explore and broaden their perspectives. Their mission is to nurture the holistic growth and development of every child, encouraging confidence, resilience, knowledge, skills, and understanding. Key values include independence, responsibility, equality, inclusion, belonging, strong relationships, and democratic practice, all in collaboration with parents.
What it's like
Children become happy and confident learners. Leaders have recognised the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide many settling-in sessions. Children join in with sharing and turn-taking games to build social skills and learn to be patient.
Experienced FounderInclusive ProvisionExperienced Staff
Pricing & funding
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Request pricing →Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2022
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for The Willow Tree Private Nursery
Last inspected 19 February 2024
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children become happy and confident learners. Leaders have recognised the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide many settling-in sessions. Children join in with sharing and turn-taking games to build social skills and learn to be patient.
Inspector highlights
- Children become happy and confident learners under the care of attentive staff.
- Staff read a 'book of the week' linked to topics and use key vocabulary to grow children's knowledge.
- Staff use 'target boards' to focus interactions and support children's progress.
- Staff set up quiet areas and encourage mindfulness to help children manage feelings and behaviour.
- Babies and older children are encouraged to be independent, and children go on regular community outings to learn British values.
Areas to develop
- 1consider the organisation of group activities, so that all children fully benefit from the experiences available to them and to minimise disruptions to children's learning
- 2ensure that information about the key-person system is clearly communicated to parents, to support them to build relationships with their child's main carer
- 3support the managers to enhance the monitoring of staff's practice, to identify areas for development and support them to continue to build on their skills and knowledge.
Inspection #10327889 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) liaises closely with parents, local authority advisers and other health professionals. She carries out visits to children in other settings before they start to attend the nursery. This helps her to get to know children and their needs. The SENCo mentors other members of staff to grow their knowledge of supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Consequently, children with SEND receive targeted support that meets their needs.
Outdoor space
The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning.
Parent Reviews of The Willow Tree Private Nursery
4.4
(13)
Nouran Abdou
8 months ago
We absolutely love our daughter’s class at the nursery! She’s always excited to go, and we’ve seen such amazing progress. Huge thanks to Dona for her warmth, patience, and genuine care. It means so much to see our daughter happy, learning
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Julia Wright
a year ago
We absolutely love The Willow Tree! ♥️ My little boy is so excited for nursery each morning and I can drop him off knowing he is in safe hands. When I pick him up, we’ve got lots to talk about due to the amazing communication from the nursery, sharing what he has been up to and any development goals he’s achieved. He’s blossomed since being at The Willow Tree and has made some beautiful relationships. The staff are so supportive and genuinely care about all the little people who attend. We are so glad we made the move and joined The Willow Tree family. 🥰
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X X
6 months ago
I am a local plumber who has visited this day nursery on many occasions I found the the place in a bad state. The conditions of the place is very dirty the toilets that I had been called to repair had been brimming with sewage and stagnant water for a considerable length of time we also found a sink to be hanging off the wall a certain member of staff was very rude and has a reputation for ripping off local businesses. If anyone doubts what I say here then they can contact me personally as I have video evidence of the sewage and very poorly maintained cubicle areas I was working in we do a video diary of every job we attend for proof of completion of works we were absolutely disgusted at the state of these toilets.
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sinead W
a year ago
Not changed baby’s nappy. Your baby deserves better I deeply regret that sent my baby to this nursery. I withdrew him because of serious concerns. There were 3 nappy entries in my babies care diary. 2 separate members of staff (1 who is a manager) recorded nappy changes. I collected him and his nappy was heavy and sagging. The staff had not changed his nappy at all that day, despite logging 3 separate nappy entries. I had provided a different brand of nappies to nursery and it was confirmed his nappy was not changed that day. I would not send a baby here. Also the owner refused to refund any fees
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Crystal Gilbank
10 months ago
Our daughter has grown in confidence so much in her time at The Willow Tree, she has formed some lovely bonds and is always happy to go to nursery, and is in a great mood when we pick her up, thank you all 💕
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for The Willow Tree Private Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: February 2024
- March 2024Good
- February 2024Good
Frequently asked about The Willow Tree Private Nursery
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