The Willows Day Nursery, located at 137 Worting Road in Basingstoke, is part of Naturally Curious Childcare and has been providing quality care since September 2019. The nursery caters to children from birth to five years old, operating from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
It prides itself on being an 'all-inclusive' childcare provider, with fees covering all meals, drinks, and essential baby items such as nappies, wipes, and formula milk, aiming to avoid hidden costs. The nursery embraces The Curiosity Approach, incorporating natural and authentic materials into play to stimulate imagination, independence, and hands-on learning experiences.
They offer exceptional learning opportunities tailored to each child's needs, fostering their growth and development. The facility includes a dedicated baby room, opened in November 2019, with free-flow access to an outdoor area, maintaining a 1:3 staff-to-child ratio for a safe and peaceful environment.
An Early Years room accommodates up to 22 children across three dedicated spaces, also featuring free-flow access to a large garden for active and discovery-based play. The Willows emphasises outdoor play year-round, believing it contributes to better sleep, eating habits, and behaviour in children.
The nursery provides freshly prepared meals by a qualified chef, catering to various dietary needs, and encourages children's independence through self-serving during mealtimes. The team consists of highly trained professionals, each child having a designated key worker to track progress and serve as a primary contact for parents, fostering an open-door policy for constant communication.
Our ethos
The Willows Day Nursery follows the Curiosity Approach and is currently undergoing an accreditation. We provide natural and authentic materials within the child’s play to spark imagination, independence and first-hand experiences. We offer amazing learning opportunities to suit the individual child allowing them to flourish and grow. Children are encouraged through independence to control their own learning and have the freedom to self select according to their own current interests. Practitioners use what they known about the children to plan learning invitations to entice your children covering all areas of learning such as adventurous play promoting physical development, personal, social and emotional development plus the skills to stay safe and manage appropriate risks.
What it's like
All children are settled and enjoy their time at the nursery. Babies benefit from the care and attention from consistent and familiar staff, who know their needs well. Older children develop strong friendships, eagerly waiting for friends and showing kindness to each other.
Fees are structured as flat daily rates categorised by age band: babies, toddlers, and children aged 3 and over. Additional hours for funded or part-funded children are billed at an hourly rate, with an optional essentials pack available per funded hour.
Funding accepted
Good to know
Food
All food and drink (Breakfast, Morning snack, Lunch, Afternoon snack and Tea) are included, catering for special dietary requirements and allergies. Baby formula milk, cow's milk, nappies, teething rings, creams, and wipes are also included for babies.
Opening hours
8.00am to 6.00pm
Age range
Birth to 5 Year Olds
Term time / All Year
All Year
Last inspected 7 July 2023
What it's like to attend
All children are settled and enjoy their time at the nursery. Babies benefit from the care and attention from consistent and familiar staff, who know their needs well. Older children develop strong friendships, eagerly waiting for friends and showing kindness to each other.
Inspector highlights
Areas to develop
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents report positively on the daily handover and the information they receive via online communications.
Inclusion & environment
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from an inclusive nursery that meets their individual needs well. The special educational needs coordinator implements strategies advised by professionals effectively. Additional funding is used to good effect to fund one-to-one staffing that benefits children's learning.
Babies are equally well supported as they explore the outdoor area with curiosity and excitement. Children develop competence in their physical skills, for example, by creating a challenging obstacle course and showing good agility as they balance safely on wooden planks.
We are super happy with Willows. The staff are all friendly and welcoming and they have a real family vibe. The way in which they run the nursery is fantastic; child led, nutritious meals and encouraging independence. Also I want to add that the team really seem as though they enjoy working there. Which is so refreshing to see! They reassured us lots when my daughter first started, which was lovely and I am very happy with her experience at Willows. I would (and have) recommend to other local families.
Read on Google
My son has been going to The Willows for around 9 months ago and I am so pleased we chose this nursery for him! Not only are there no hidden costs, but the nursery never shies away from sensory and messy play, taking the pressure off me! I wanted to my boy to come home every day messy and having had lots of fun and that’s exactly what we get. The staff are so approachable and care about the babies development, it’s just a fantastic place.
Read on Google
Our son is due to start in February, but so far we honestly couldn’t be happier with the service we’ve received. The whole team has been so lovely, caring, and genuinely welcoming from the very start. We really appreciate the four settling-in sessions they’ve offered, which has made us feel much more at ease about the transition. Another huge plus is that they provide everything our child needs while he’s there — such a thoughtful and helpful detail. We also receive regular updates, which is incredibly reassuring and has made us feel included every step of the way. We feel very confident and excited about our son starting. Thank you for making the experience so positive already!
Read on Google
My daughter has been attending The Willows for about a year now and she absolutely loves going - sometimes she doesn't want to leave when I collect her! I have had nothing but the best experience with this nursery: their communication is fantastic; they keep me updated with specific and regular details throughout the day; the activities provided are varied and engaging; most of all it feels like a home away from home. The staff are so welcoming and friendly. I could not recommend this nursery more.
Read on Google
My son has been going to willows for just over 2 years now. He loves going to nursery, and the staff are all really friendly, and supportive. My son is very fussy with eating. His keyworker has encouraged him to try new foods, and over his time there, he is eating a lot more than he ever was, thanks to the encouragement. He is making lovely friendships too, and they do a lot of good play setups. My son always has a great time when he's there, and comes out happy every time. We have had cause to raise issues in the past, but these have been minor, and issues rectified straight away. The management have no issue in you talking with them, and they always listen, and provide updates. There has recently been a new manager, and she is excellent. I'm confident in all the staff there, and know that my son is well looked after. I'm glad we chose willows for our son to attend. It is a very good nursery, and they genuinely care about the children.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for The Willows Day Nursery Basingstoke. See all on Google Maps
Date: July 2023
Willows Day Nursery re-registered under new company ownership in 2021. It is situated in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, all year round, from 8am to 6pm. The nursery employs 11 members of staff, with eight holding appropriate childcare qualifications at level 2 or above, and the manager holding a qualification at level 6. The team includes a qualified chef. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Willows Day Nursery Basingstoke.
Basingstoke · RG22 6RE
Basingstoke · RG21 8TN
Basingstoke · RG22 6RH
Basingstoke · RG23 8BU
Basingstoke · RG23 8AN
Basingstoke · RG23 8JQ
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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
