Willows Montessori Nursery (Crawcrook)

About this day nursery

Willows Montessori Nursery in Crawcrook, established in September 2023, provides an enriching Montessori environment for children aged 0-5 years. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm, for 51 weeks of the year, closing only during the Christmas and New Year period and on bank holidays.

The nursery is divided into three age-specific classrooms: the Hedgehog Room for infants (0-2 years) with a 1:3 staff-to-child ratio, the Bunnies Room for toddlers (2-3 years) with a 1:5 ratio, and the Otters Room for pre-schoolers (3-5 years) with a 1:8 ratio. Each room is thoughtfully designed to foster independence and learning through accessible resources and Montessori materials.

The children benefit from dedicated outdoor spaces for free-flow access and engage in gardening activities in the nursery's allotment. A particular highlight is the Forest School Adventure sessions for the Bunnies, promoting physical, social, and communication skills through activities like storytelling, digging, climbing, and identifying local flora and fauna.

The nursery also takes children on local outings, including trips to the park and library, ensuring a holistic and community-integrated learning experience.

Our ethos

Willows Montessori Nursery follows the Montessori approach, utilising age-specific classrooms equipped with Montessori materials to foster independence and learning. They emphasise outdoor learning through Forest School Adventure sessions and gardening, promoting holistic development and community integration.

What it's like

Children thoroughly enjoy their time in nursery, listening to stories and developing small-muscle skills. Staff focus on communication, with a high priority on singing and stories to expand vocabulary. Children learn rules and routines, independently putting things away and preparing for snack time.

Pricing & funding