Opening hours
Monday to Friday, from 7am until 7pm, all year round
Willow Garden Day Nursery (WGDN)
Ofsted: Strong standard·
5.0(5 parent reviews)
·176 Heath Road, Orsett, GRAYS, RM16 3AP · Thurrock
Number of places
36 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2026
Local authority
Thurrock
About this day nursery
Willow Garden Day Nursery (WGDN) is an outstanding childcare setting in Grays, established in 2012, offering exceptional care for children aged 1 to 4 years. Open all year round, Monday to Friday, from 7am until 7pm, the nursery provides a welcoming and secure environment where children thrive.
The dedicated and nurturing staff team works to ensure children settle quickly and form strong bonds, fostering a sense of belonging within the nursery community. Children at Willow Garden Day Nursery are extremely happy and content, consistently making outstanding progress in their development, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
They are highly motivated and approach learning with a positive attitude, enjoying challenges. The nursery boasts an exceptional outdoor environment, offering a wealth of natural resources that change daily, allowing children to discover the seasons and different weather conditions in stimulating ways.
Children also discover fascinating facts about nature and wildlife in the wonderful woodlands within the nursery grounds, learning about life-cycles, identifying bird songs, and observing insects. Staff are skilled in promoting communication and language development from a young age through talking, singing, and reading.
They also provide an excellent range of resources to develop fine motor skills, preparing children for early writing, and promote mathematical understanding through engaging activities. Partnerships with parents are exceptionally strong, with managers offering sensitive support and information, ensuring parents are fully involved in their children's learning journey.
What it's like
Children are extremely happy and content at Willow Garden Day Nursery and settle quickly with the dedicated and nurturing staff. They form close bonds with staff and enjoy exploring the fascinating resources, feeling secure and safe. Children behave exceptionally well and make outstanding progress in their development.
Exceptional outdoor environmentOutstanding progress for allStrong parent partnershipsDedicated and nurturing staffExcellent communication skills developmentOutstanding Ofsted rating
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2012
Ofsted Inspection — new report card
Strong standard
Last inspected Feb 2026
Grade summary
Exceptional
—
Strong standard
Expected standard
—
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—
Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.
Category grades
AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Willow Garden Day Nursery (WGDN)
Last inspected 12 February 2026
What it's like to attend
Children are extremely happy and content at Willow Garden Day Nursery and settle quickly with the dedicated and nurturing staff. They form close bonds with staff and enjoy exploring the fascinating resources, feeling secure and safe. Children behave exceptionally well and make outstanding progress in their development.
Inspector highlights
- Children discover fascinating facts about nature and wildlife as they explore the wonderful woodlands in the grounds of the nursery.
- Partnerships with parents are exceptionally strong, with managers providing sensitive support and information, and staff ensuring parents are fully involved.
- Children understand how to dress themselves appropriately for the weather, as they choose to play outside, and use their imagination in exploring puddles with paint.
- Children's communication and language skills develop exceptionally well from a young age, with staff promoting speech through talking, singing, and reading.
- Staff provide an excellent range of resources that help children to develop their fingers and wrists in readiness for early writing, and promote and extend the learning of mathematics.
Inspection #10137485 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
All children make outstanding progress in their development, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Outdoor space
Children thrive in the exceptional outdoor environment, where they experience a wealth of natural resources that change daily. Children discover the changing seasons and different weather conditions which are stimulating to their senses.
Parent Reviews of Willow Garden Day Nursery (WGDN)
5.0
(5)
James Key
2 years ago
My little girl has attended Willow garden for 2 years now. The staff have been amazing the whole time. At the start she was shy as was born shortly before the lockdown, but she soon became very confident and happy to be at the nursery thanks to the wonderful staff. Best nursery around. Staff and setting both great and really promoting nature in the setting. I cannot recommend this nursery enough! Thank you all involved!
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Cristina Floristean
8 months ago
The best nursery, i recommend for all parents ! My baby have only 4 days in the nursery and she love the place ! The staff are amazing 🤩!!
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Grace Onwuka
3 years ago
So happy and blessed that this nursery had Emergency Childcare availablity for my son for 2 weeks. It was his first time in a nursery (was previously with a childminder), and he was made to feel right at home. The staff and the owners are all so amazing and genuine. They honestly gave myself and my husband peace of mind leaving my son with them without any settling in periods. They were able to accommodate to his fussy eating like it wasn't an issue, and went above and beyond to ensure he got food in his belly. We really couldn't be more grateful. He learnt how to say sentences we've never heard him say in such a short space of time, and came home with adorable pictures and crafts from his day. It's just a shame his time here was only temporary as this is truly a place we can see our son permanently. At least we know this nursery is here if we need it in the future and we honestly can't recommend this place enough. Thank you truly X
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Rebecca Polston
8 years ago
Willow Garden Day Nursery is one of, if not the best nurseries in the area. The staff are attentive and caring to all of the children and treat them as though they are their own. They are also friendly and approachable and strive to get the best out of every child in their care. My little one has come on leaps and bounds since attending this nursery and i owe them alot. As a parent its a tough choice to leave your child anywhere but you would never question this with Willow Garden. Children are involved in all sorts of activities both inside and outside in the vast garden and are encouraged to go out of their comfort zone to build up their confidence. I will be absolutely devastated when my daughter has to leave. I feel like they are all part of the family now and will miss them all dreadfully!
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Dean Remblance
4 years ago
An amazing nursery who go above and beyond to make sure the kids get what they need both our children have attended wgdn and I’m sure if we have anymore kids they will be going there 1st class nursery highly recommend
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Willow Garden Day Nursery (WGDN). See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: July 2012
The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Outstanding). We're re-checking it against the original report.
- May 2020Outstanding
- February 2020Outstanding
- May 2015Outstanding
- April 2015Outstanding
- July 2012Good
- July 2012Good
Frequently asked about Willow Garden Day Nursery (WGDN)
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