Willow Tree Nursery

In April 2025, a lending library, outings to local gardens and learning plans shaped around individual interests gave Willow Tree Nursery a recognisable character. At its April 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective. The strongest practical thread is the connection between children's everyday experiences and their next steps in learning.

Willow Tree Nursery has capacity for 59 children, with a current age range of 3 to 60 months. Its address is Unit 19-21 at Brookfield Business Park in Shiptonthorpe, YO43 3PU, on Clay Lane, York Road.

In April 2025, children borrowed books from the nursery lending library and visited a library and local gardens. Borrowing extended their access to books beyond nursery, while outings brought the surrounding community into their experience.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the April 2025 activities included rhymes, conversation, movement and number games: learning happened through play and everyday routines. Individual learning plans combined children's interests with their next steps, and staff used assessments to adjust activities.

Physical exploration had concrete outlets. In April 2025, children rode around the garden and used a slide; younger children practised walking and crawling indoors. Counting and numbered mats supported number recognition, although teaching gave less attention to position, quantity and measurement. Those distinctions matter: recognising a numeral is only part of understanding numbers and space.

At the April 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that children progressed well and that staff supported additional needs through tailored care and advice from other professionals. In that month's daily practice, key people knew children's needs and interests, giving relationships continuity.

Circle time gave children opportunities to discuss feelings. Adults helped them work through disagreements, practise patience and recognise one another's achievements. Independence also had practical expression: children served food, poured drinks and put away their outdoor clothing.

Meals and snacks were balanced in April 2025, but discussion about healthy food choices needed more attention. School preparation included visiting teachers, familiarisation with school-day routines and encouragement to seek help from a trusted adult. Parents received ongoing updates; a more structured way of gathering their feedback was an improvement priority.

Opening hours are 7.15am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. This gives families a broad daily opening window, with those closures to plan around.

In April 2025, the nursery offered government-funded childcare and received funding supporting disadvantaged children. That inspection-time participation is separate from the arrangements a family would book today.

• Early mathematical understanding. April 2025 teaching needed more work on position, measurement and quantity. During a visit, ask how these ideas now feature in play.
• Healthy habits. Balanced meals in April 2025 were accompanied by too little conversation about food choices. Helping children understand those choices was an improvement priority.
• Parent feedback. In April 2025, informal conversations supplied feedback, but a more systematic approach was needed to help evaluate the provision.

Willow Tree Nursery suits families who value books, community outings and practical independence, with its April 2025 practice offering concrete examples of each. Its broad weekday opening window is useful for working schedules. The balance is clear: reassuring dated inspection judgements, alongside specific work to strengthen mathematical understanding, healthy-eating discussion and parent feedback.