Willow Tree Preschool and Holiday Club

At Willow Tree Preschool and Holiday Club in Clifton, Nottingham, children mixed garden-grown herbs into playdough they made with staff in August 2025. At its August 2025 inspection, Ofsted graded the provision Good, judged safeguarding effective and found strong support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The setting has capacity for 42 children aged two to five. Its inspection-time strengths included interactive storytelling, practical exploration and opportunities for children to manage tasks for themselves.

In August 2025, stories prompted conversations about children's own experiences, with staff introducing vocabulary through discussion of community roles. Mathematical language also appeared in water play, helping children use words about size in a practical context. These examples show language and mathematical learning woven into play.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, its everyday application included language, exploration and physical activity. During that August visit, children made pretend pizzas and built a vehicle ramp, while herbs collected from the garden added another sensory element to playdough.

Outdoor equipment included bikes, scooters and climbing frames. In August 2025, staff planned a progression from scooting to pedalling, but wellies made movement harder and children sometimes abandoned the challenge. Adult direction also sometimes left too little room for children to test their own solutions. Both points matter: engaging resources need to be matched by opportunities to persevere and think independently.

In August 2025, communication support included signing and pictures carried on lanyards, with additional funding used for sensory equipment and targeted interventions. Staff worked with families and other professionals around individual needs. These are concrete mechanisms for adapting the day to a child.

Home celebrations provided material for conversations about differences, and the role-play home corner included culturally relevant resources. Guidance on sharing and taking turns helped children practise cooperation.

At the same visit, parents received feedback on achievements and activities to continue learning at home. Children handled packed lunches with little assistance, while conversations about food choices brought self-care into mealtimes. Staff also checked the premises daily and taught children how to handle craft equipment safely.

The address is Loreus Ltd, 15 Green Lane, Nottingham NG11 9HT. Term-time opening hours are 8.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

In August 2025, the preschool provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Families supplied packed lunches at that visit. A holiday club operated during some school holidays then, making the distinction between the preschool calendar and holiday provision relevant to childcare planning.

• Independent thinking. In August 2025, adults sometimes took too much control of play. During a visit, look for opportunities for children to pursue an idea and work out a solution themselves.
• Physical challenge. Wellies impeded climbing and pedalling at the August 2025 visit. Ask how footwear and adult encouragement now help children keep trying.
• Attendance planning. Term-time opening runs from 8.30am to 4pm. Which booking patterns and holiday-club dates would fit your family's week?

Willow Tree suits families seeking term-time preschool care for children aged two to five. Practical play and communication were strengths of its August 2025 inspection picture. The August 2025 picture gives clear examples of individual support and parent communication, alongside two useful priorities: more child-led problem-solving and better support for physical persistence.