Toad Hall Nursery, The Willows, Winnersh

A purpose-built setting with airy rooms and a playground combining grass with soft surfacing gives The Willows a clear physical identity. Space for imaginative play is a central part of the offer, alongside music, movement and books children can borrow. These are useful, concrete starting points for families who want both indoor play space and outdoor activity.

At its 16 February 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than an assessment of today's daily practice. The nursery has capacity for 72 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months.

Interest-led activities connect the current offer with the detail of the nursery day documented in February 2022. Sensory exploration, pretend play and learning to manage everyday tasks all featured then. The important qualification concerns how activities worked for the youngest children and the resources available for children needing additional support.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: in everyday terms, play supports communication, physical development and learning to get along with others. It is the common foundation for early years provision. Here, activities are planned around children's interests, giving practitioners a starting point in what already engages each child.

Music and movement programmes add opportunities to join in through sound and physical activity, while lending library books let families take reading beyond the nursery.

In February 2022, babies experimented with sand and water, exploring how adding one changed the other. Older children searched through coloured water and sticky mixtures, while preschool children developed a hairdressing game using clips and pretend hair colouring. Staff extended these interests through conversation and new vocabulary. The examples matter because they show learning taking place within play, rather than treating play as a pause between learning activities.

Children also practised the social side of sharing a busy space. In February 2022, babies were helped to wait before using a slide, and older children considered others during water play. Comforting an upset friend was another observed part of the day. These small exchanges gave children practical opportunities to learn turn-taking and consideration.

Outdoor and Community Life

The outdoor offer includes a large playground, grass and soft surfacing. That combination gives families more to assess than a simple promise of outdoor access: the surfaces and layout are tangible parts of the play environment.

In February 2022, outdoor activity included moving through obstacles, riding scooters and tricycles, and imaginative play in a mud kitchen. Babies used a slide, with staff nearby to support them. The garden therefore contributed both movement and pretend play at that time. It was more than a place to let off energy.

Relationships and Communication

In February 2022, the key-person arrangement included a supporting buddy, giving children another familiar member of staff to turn to. Practitioners responded to babies' routines, offered comfort and helped them practise emerging movement skills, including standing and walking. For a family choosing care for a baby, these details are more useful than a general promise of warmth: they describe how support was organised and what staff actually did.

Home languages were also part of settling in during February 2022. Staff learnt words used by children's families, and dual-language books supported familiarity with different languages. This brought something recognisable from home into nursery life, rather than expecting every child to begin with the same language experiences.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the February 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well through work with parents and other professionals, but that limited resources and visual aids restricted support for engagement and concentration. Both parts matter. The relationships and referral work were positive, while the materials available to help children participate needed attention.

Adult-led activities for the youngest children were another improvement point in February 2022. Differences in age and ability within group activities sometimes prevented staff from helping each baby benefit fully. This was about how an activity worked for individual children, rather than a published cap on a room or group.

Healthy meals use seasonal menus and can be adapted for allergies. In February 2022, older children also practised independence by preparing the table and serving food themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Toad Hall Nursery, 705 Wharfedale Road, Wokingham, RG41 5RB. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with operation across the year and closures on bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year. Those closures are relevant to families planning care around work throughout the year.

Funded sessions are offered. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0118 9692 525 or by email to winnersh@toadhall-nursery.co.uk. These provide a direct route for discussing enrolment with this branch.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and the wider practical offer should be considered together when assessing a family budget. Nappies and creams, including sun cream, are provided. That is a useful supply arrangement for parents preparing what to send with their child; it should be distinguished from the question of how items are charged.

• Activities for babies. The February 2022 improvement point concerned adult-led groups whose differing ages and abilities made individual support harder. During a visit, ask how these activities are organised now so that younger babies can participate alongside more mobile children.
• Support materials. In February 2022, visual aids and other resources for children with emerging or identified needs needed development. Families seeking additional support should discuss the materials their child would use and how these fit their individual needs.
• Funding and the written quotation. Funded sessions, meals and supplied nappies and creams all form part of the practical decision. Request a current written quotation covering the attendance pattern, funded hours and charges for food and consumables; families managing allergies should also confirm current meal arrangements.

The Willows suits families seeking year-round weekday childcare, interest-led activities and a setting with substantial indoor rooms and a playground combining grass and soft surfacing. Music and movement, together with books to borrow, give parents concrete ways to connect with their child's nursery experiences.

The February 2022 judgement provides a positive inspection reference, with specific reservations about younger children's group activities and resources for additional needs. Those points deserve weight alongside the physical setting and practical offer. For parents of babies or children needing tailored support, the detail of individual participation is the most useful test of fit.