Willows Academy Nursery Review

Stories, rhymes and conversation give Willows Academy’s nursery its clearest character. This is the school’s own nursery provision on Queensway in Grimsby, with an emphasis on helping young children build language through play and interaction with adults.

For 2025–2026, the nursery arrangements allowed a maximum of 26 places and entry in the term after a child’s third birthday. Those figures describe that admission cycle, rather than a promise of a place today.

Language runs through the learning. In November 2024, children in Nursery heard stories and rhymes in surroundings that encouraged talking. Within the early years, adults used play to develop children’s knowledge and skills, and their conversations helped children become more confident communicators. Children followed routines and concentrated on activities. For parents, the useful combination is play with a learning purpose and adults who extend what children can say.

The early years science provision uses Development Matters, with its Understanding the World focus helping children explore their surroundings. Planting and growing, preparing food, noticing seasonal changes and forest schools provide concrete starting points. These experiences give children things to investigate and talk about, rather than making discovery depend solely on listening to an explanation.

Early writing. In November 2024, the school needed to sequence the foundations of writing more carefully, giving pupils more practice with spelling, forming letters and constructing simple sentences before longer tasks. This is a school improvement point relevant to the learning that follows nursery.

Settling starts before the first nursery session. Home visits, a nursery meeting, information packs and stay-and-play opportunities help bridge the move from home. Where a child has additional needs, preparatory discussions can involve parents, the class teacher, the SENCo, the Home School Pastoral Officer and outside professionals. That creates an opportunity to discuss support before the child starts.

Across the academy, SEND support involves parents in planning and reviewing a child’s targets. Children with SEND have at least three reviews during the year; early years children with an EHC plan have that plan reviewed every six months. The academy occupies a level site, and classroom layouts can be adjusted to accommodate a wheelchair or walking frame. These are practical details for families considering access and ongoing support.

Thrive is another school support approach, delivered by a practitioner to individuals or small groups, with classroom staff also using Thrive activities. School meals are supplied by Chartwells, and the academy uses MCAS for payments. These are school-wide arrangements, rather than a description of a nursery meal package.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority and meet its normal deadline.

For the 2025–2026 admission cycle, nursery children had to apply again, and nursery attendance was not a priority criterion. The arrangements referred to a January deadline; North East Lincolnshire residents applied through the council. Keep that historical cycle separate from the application timetable for your child.

Reception preparation includes a meeting, transition sessions and a transition day. Preparatory meetings can also address additional needs. These activities support the change of stage; they do not secure admission.

The academy office is the enquiry route: call 01472 504450, email info@willowsacademy.org.uk or send a message through the contact form. Willows Academy’s address is Queensway, Grimsby, DN37 9AT. For SEND discussions, families can arrange an appointment through the office, giving them a direct route to discuss their child’s needs.