The Willows Day Nursery

Core stories shape the planning at The Willows Day Nursery, while Tapestry, its online learning journal, lets parents contribute photographs and updates from home. That gives families a practical part in the nursery day: a new interest can inform what children explore next, rather than remaining a story told only at home.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The setting at 137 Worting Road, Basingstoke, RG22 6NN caters for children from birth to five. Morning, afternoon and full-day sessions give families several attendance patterns to consider.

The important qualification concerns teaching precision and consistency of additional support. In July 2023, older children sometimes lost interest when activities did not stretch them sufficiently, and some staff needed greater confidence in using individual support plans. These reservations concern both learning and consistency of care.

Rooms and Ages

Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre School have separate virtual tours, allowing parents to preview the spaces before visiting. These make room organisation a useful starting point for comparing how a child's day changes as they grow.

In July 2023, babies explored outside and experimented with paint, while older children investigated water, containers and weight. An obstacle course included wooden planks for balancing. These were concrete examples of learning through movement and handling materials: children could test an idea, rather than simply hear an explanation.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS sets the expectations for children's learning, development and care, covering skills such as communication, movement, early number work and relationships. At The Willows, adult-planned activities sit alongside play initiated by children. Core stories help organise planning, and Development Matters provides guidance for supporting children's development alongside the EYFS.

Children's interests influence the activities. Practitioners join play to extend learning and aim to avoid interrupting a child who is deeply absorbed. Parents can share new experiences and interests so these become part of the planning. The practical value is continuity: what catches a child's attention at home can have a place in their nursery learning too.

In July 2023, books about space supported children's investigations, babies joined songs with movement, and simple signs accompanied familiar words. Older children experimented with letters from their names on their artwork. The teaching weakness was also specific: activities did not always have a clear enough next learning step, so some older children moved on before developing their understanding further.

Outdoor and Community Life

Indoor and outdoor play are both part of the current offer. Outings include theatre and library visits, with parents encouraged to join. These extend children's experiences beyond the nursery's own resources.

Holiday Club provides another attendance option during school breaks. Families requesting this childcare are asked to give at least two weeks' notice, making advance planning part of that arrangement.

Relationships and Communication

A key person and familiar adults provide the relationship around which activities and support are organised. Settling visits are free, usually last an hour and normally take place during the week before the agreed start. Comfort toys and dummies can accompany children, helping connect the new routine with familiar comforts.

Tapestry carries photographs, videos and written updates, and parents can add their own contributions. Practitioners use observations to plan children's next steps, while written development reports provide another account of learning. This gives communication a purpose beyond recording enjoyable moments: information from both home and nursery can inform future activities.

In July 2023, daily handovers and online communication formed a two-way exchange with parents. Children also practised everyday independence by serving drinks and preparing tables for lunch. Such tasks made preparation for school part of ordinary routines.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that support for children with SEND included professional advice and funded one-to-one staffing, but required all staff to become more confident with individual plans so support remained consistent throughout the day. The distinction matters: an effective strategy needs to be understood by everyone caring for the child.

Parents must give written details of allergies, medical conditions and dietary requirements. Staff can help families seek assistance from outside agencies when concerns about development arise. In July 2023, the team included a qualified chef; that is a dated staffing detail rather than a description of today's team.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Morning sessions run from 7am to noon or from 8am to 1pm; afternoons run from 1pm to 6pm. Standard full-day patterns are 7am to 5pm or 8am to 6pm.

The booking terms require at least two full days on different days. The nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing on public holidays and for one week between Christmas and New Year.

Applications begin with a Place Enquiry Form, followed by contact from the manager. Registration forms are completed after a place has been offered. Extra occasional attendance has its own booking form and requires payment and acknowledgement before the booking is confirmed.

Getting There

The address is 137 Worting Road, Basingstoke, RG22 6NN. Ten parking spaces sit at the front of the nursery, providing an on-site option for families travelling by car.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded and privately paid childcare are offered. Funding covers the baby, two-year-old and preschool categories, including universal preschool funding and extended entitlements, subject to eligibility. The funding options include 15 and 30 hours over 38 weeks. Stretching funding across 51 weeks carries an extra premium and is conditional on the child attending for 12 months before leaving for Reception. Children remaining after that stretched period move to 38-week funding and pay separately for attendance outside term time.

The limited funded-only arrangement with packed meals runs over 38 weeks; families provide those meals. Otherwise, quoted nursery fees include meals and the consumables charge, which covers items such as snacks, milk, resources and cleaning materials. Parents supply nappy cream and sun cream, so non-food consumables involve a mixture of nursery-fee inclusion and supplies from home.

A non-refundable registration charge and a deposit apply, except to the limited funded-only arrangement with packed meals. Deposits are held as account credit and are refundable when the child leaves, subject to the withdrawal terms. Ending the contract requires four weeks' written notice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Shorter sessions and the minimum booking. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside a requirement for two full days on separate days. Ask how your preferred pattern fits the contract before accepting it.
• Challenge for older children. In July 2023, some activities did not stretch older children enough. During a visit, ask how practitioners decide what an individual child should learn next.
• Consistency of SEND support. The July 2023 improvement action concerned staff confidence with individual plans. Families needing additional support should discuss how those plans are shared across the child's day.
• Funding and supplies. Packed-meal funded-only attendance differs from the inclusive quotation model, and parents supply creams. Families managing allergies should confirm current meal practice alongside their written dietary information.

The Willows suits families considering morning or afternoon sessions as well as full days, provided their chosen arrangement fits the minimum booking terms. Story-based planning, parent contributions through Tapestry and planned settling visits give its offer a clear practical shape.

The July 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, with two precise reservations: challenge for older children and consistent use of SEND plans. Families who value an active role in sharing their child's interests have a concrete mechanism here. The teaching reservation makes purposeful next steps an important consideration.