Tom Thumb Nursery, The Willows

Helping a younger child fasten a coat and measuring with sticks give The Willows its character: practical independence sits alongside learning through play. At its February 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The strongest examples were small, everyday achievements rather than elaborate programmes.

Tom Thumb Nursery, The Willows has capacity for 74 children, with an accepted age range of 24 to 60 months. Its term-time calendar makes the school-holiday break an important consideration for working families.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, care and development; here, the February 2025 examples included stories, mathematical exploration and cooperative play. Storytelling used props to help children understand what they heard. Comparing sticks brought length and measurement into an activity children could handle themselves.

In February 2025, the outdoor play area provided resources for developing strength and larger movements, responding to children's differing opportunities to play outside. Children also helped make outdoor equipment ready to use. Independence had a practical purpose: dressing for outdoor play, washing hands and helping younger children with coat zips.

Baba Marta Day was among the cultural celebrations shared in February 2025, with events chosen for their relevance to children attending. Group discussions about behaviour helped children understand why indoor running could cause accidents. Sharing materials and inviting others into play put those expectations into practice.

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that key persons understood children's interests and personalities, and that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities had clear targets and made good progress with staff support. Other professionals contributed to children's learning, giving that support a route beyond the nursery team.

In February 2025, children learning English received individual sessions as well as opportunities to develop vocabulary during the day. Makaton was used as a communication tool across the setting. Policies in several languages and an online app helped share information with families, but communication was inconsistent and parents needed better support to participate in their children's learning.

School transition work in February 2025 included visits from teachers and detailed handovers. This gave receiving teachers an opportunity to meet children before they moved on. Staff induction covered routines and procedures, while regular supervision and training supported their work.

The address is 30-32 Newlands Avenue, KINGS LYNN, PE30 2NJ. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 4pm, during term time and closes for school holidays.

In February 2025, session times ran from 8.30am to 4pm, and government-funded early education was provided for eligible children. These are dated details of attendance and funding, rather than a promise of a particular booking arrangement.

• Communication about learning. In February 2025, information sharing was inconsistent despite the app and translated policies. Families should look for a clear explanation of how updates connect with their child's next steps.
• School-holiday cover. The term-time calendar includes closure during school holidays. Families needing care across the year will need to plan around those breaks.
• Moving from home into nursery. The February 2025 account showed individualised key-person support. How would that relationship be established during your child's settling period?

The Willows suits families whose childcare needs fit a term-time calendar and who value practical independence, outdoor activity and communication support. February 2025 examples give substance to that description, from helping younger children to exploring measurement through play. Parent communication is the clearest point requiring attention: useful learning experiences need equally useful conversations with home.