Little Oaks Nursery at Willow Tree Community Primary School

A separate nursery building, an enclosed outdoor area and opportunities to join the wider school give Little Oaks its distinctive shape. This is the teacher-led nursery at Willow Tree Community Primary School in Harrogate. Children normally start in the term following their third birthday.

Little Oaks sits apart from the main infant building, while sharing some outdoor space with younger school pupils. It combines a nursery base with contact across the school. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 1 and 2 October 2024; that judgement covers early years rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play and focused learning sit alongside each other. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers movement, communication and emotional development, together with early reading and writing, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. Staff use observations of children to assess learning and plan what comes next. For parents, this means development extends beyond early academic skills to how children communicate and manage relationships.

Kagan Co-operative Learning is the school's named teaching approach, with opportunities for children to work together and independently. In early years, play and focused activities begin building knowledge of number and phonics. Pre-phonics work begins in Nursery, and independence receives explicit attention across early years.

Arts and crafts, dressing-up and music give children different ways to express ideas. Outdoors, messy play adds another kind of exploration; carpet story sessions bring language into the day. Children can also use a larger outdoor area shared with younger infant pupils. In October 2024, early years children were making good progress through learning that included story retelling, joint tasks and experimentation. Indoor and outdoor spaces supported that work.

Teacher-led provision gives Little Oaks a classroom teaching structure. In October 2024, early years relationships between children and adults were positive, as were interactions among children. Families needing additional support can contact the school's special educational needs coordinator directly at send@willowtree.nsat.org.uk.

Lunch club is available until 12.15pm for children attending a full day or a morning session. School catering is provided by Aspens Services, with meals cooked on site and provision for individual dietary needs. Packed lunches are another option under the school's meal arrangements. Nuts and nut products must be excluded, and sweets and fizzy drinks are not allowed. These rules matter when preparing food from home. Children under five can receive free daily milk after registration with Cool Milk.

Attending Little Oaks does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through North Yorkshire Council using its online Preference Form. Treat that application as a distinct step, even when your child already attends the nursery.

Familiarity with school life is a separate benefit. Little Oaks children use outdoor space alongside younger infant pupils, and join school activities when these can be arranged. Those experiences introduce other children and the wider school setting; they do not secure admission.

Term-time choices include a full day from 8.40am to 3.15pm, plus morning or afternoon half days. The nursery offers 15 funded hours each week, with an additional 15 hours for eligible working parents. The resulting 30 hours can be used at Willow Tree or split with one other nursery provider. Extra sessions and lunch club carry charges; contact the school for current charges.

For a longer childcare day, Kids at Heart operates Woodlands Kids Club on the school grounds. Breakfast, after-school and holiday care are offered for children from age three. Nursery applications go through the school office, and visits can be arranged by calling 01423 883551.

School-wide improvement points. In October 2024, attendance was too low, especially among disadvantaged pupils, and some new leaders needed further training. These were school-wide concerns, rather than findings specific to Little Oaks. Families should keep their scope in mind alongside the early years judgement.