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Willow Tree Nursery in Carlisle

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2023)
·
5.0(12 parent reviews) ·Unit 1-4, St Nicholas Business Park, Carlisle, CA2 4BA · Cumberland
Number of places
60 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2023
Local authority
Cumberland

About this day nursery

Willow Tree Nursery is a 50-place childcare facility in Carlisle, privately owned and managed by Sarah Linnett. Sarah brings over a decade of experience from running a successful home-based early years setting before establishing the current nursery at St Nicholas Bridge Business Park.

The nursery provides care for children in a spacious, multi-age room. Emphasising outdoor play and learning, the nursery features a secure garden with a dedicated area for babies and a covered space for all-weather access.

Children are actively involved in maintaining a vegetable plot, where they learn about food origins and healthy eating habits. Additionally, they help care for two resident guinea pigs.

The staff at Willow Tree Nursery are all highly qualified, holding relevant childcare certifications and full DBS disclosures. They are extensively trained in various areas crucial for child welfare, including Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding Children, Food Handling and Hygiene, Infection Control, and COSHH.

The nursery also notably incorporates the 7 Principles of Montessori Education into its approach and supports ongoing professional development for its staff in areas of personal interest and child development.

Our ethos

Willow Tree Nursery is committed to the 7 Principles of Montessori Education. They emphasise outdoor play and learning, involving children in gardening and animal care to foster an understanding of food origins and healthy eating. The nursery also supports staff professional development.

What it's like

Staff create a warm and welcoming environment where children feel safe and secure. The key-person system ensures that children are well supported through a settling-in process. This supports children's emotional well-being and sense of security.

Pricing & funding

Charges are calculated hourly, with a minimum booking of three hours per session. Fees are split into two age bands, under two years and over two years, and include snacks, nappies, and wipes. Main meals can be purchased for an additional charge, or parents can provide a packed lunch.

Good to know

  • Sessions are charged by the hour with a minimum booking of 3 hours.
  • Fees include nappies, wipes, and snacks.
  • Main meals can be purchased separately, or parents can provide a packed lunch.

Key facts

Food

Main meals are £3, or children can bring a healthy packed lunch. Nappies, wipes, and snacks are inclusive of the hourly rate.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, all year round except for bank holidays and two weeks over Christmas.

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2021

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Willow Tree Nursery

Last inspected 18 September 2023

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Staff create a warm and welcoming environment where children feel safe and secure. The key-person system ensures that children are well supported through a settling-in process. This supports children's emotional well-being and sense of security.

Inspector highlights

  • The strong leadership team provides an ambitious curriculum and continually strives to improve the provision.
  • Children make good progress from their starting points, with support tailored for those with SEND.
  • Children learn the importance of oral hygiene and are encouraged to dress themselves.
  • Staff support children's literacy, communication, and language skills effectively.
  • Partnership with parents is good, with high levels of communication and bespoke support.

Areas to develop

  • 1Strengthen staff practice to develop a more consistent approach in supporting children's hygiene practices and independence in daily routines.
  • 2Support staff to increase opportunities in the curriculum for children to develop an increased awareness of their similarities and differences to enable them to understand what makes them unique.
Inspection #10304242 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents state that these special relationships and the bespoke support they receive have helped their children to make continued progress in their development since starting at the nursery.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works in partnership with parents and other professionals to ensure that early help and targeted support are introduced early. Additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, is also used effectively to support children's ongoing progress and development, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Outdoor space

Children explore an exciting indoor and outdoor environment where their physical development is promoted well. Children confidently climb up climbing frames and use slides, and staff promote activities that enhance their development of large and small muscles and hand-eye coordination.

Parent Reviews of Willow Tree Nursery

5.0
(12)
Peter Huggon
10 months ago

Fantastic nursery. Very flexible week to week with your hours and days (Good for shift workers). The staff are always happy, smiling and giving great detail of the day at pickup time. Our youngest is slightly behind with his progress, and the nursery have been absolutely fantastic in not only supporting him, but supporting us as a family. They’ve had him assessed by their SENCO, who has been fantastic in keeping us up to date with his progress in nursery. We’ve been advised on different things we can apply for (for both at home and nursery) to help him progress. They’ve set up regular progress meetings, which they have even invited the health visitor to attend. They’ve recommended different sensory seeking advice, to make things as safe and fun for him at home. This is more than I ever would have expected from a nursery. I would highly recommend!

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Queenie Sharpe-Fox
a year ago

Willow Tree is the best nursery in Carlisle. I would 100% recommend this nursery to anyone looking for a friendly, educational, loving and inclusive setting for their child. The staff have been so sensitive to the needs of my child and our family. From the very first visit they have been been so supportive, whether that be accommodating my child’s breastfeeding journey or easing my anxieties regarding my child’s development. The staff are outstanding, the facilities are beautiful. They have played a huge role in the development and happiness of my child. I can’t thank them enough!

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Samantha Robinson
a year ago

Brilliant nursery. Total home from home experience for your little one's. Staff at Willow Tree are very experienced and led by a good strong Management Team. Lots of fun activities and visits both in and out of the nursery environment. Highly recommended

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helen moran
4 years ago

Fantastic child care, professional and friendly staff. My daughter’s development since she started attending has been exceptional. Highly recommend.

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Alicja Langowska
3 years ago

Friendly staff. Children have lots of activities that change daily, and parents are being updated and provided with photos. Most importantly, my child is happy there.

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Reviews from Google for Willow Tree Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: September 2023

  • October 2023Good
  • September 2023Good

Frequently asked about Willow Tree Nursery

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more