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Nursery at The Willows Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories, sound games and a new rhyme to learn each week give The Willows nursery a clear emphasis on communication. Saplings serves two-year-olds in a smaller setting with more adults per child than Oak, the class for three- and four-year-olds. Both sit on the school site in Newbury. The nursery accepts children from two years to four years eleven months, with entry beginning in the term after their second birthday.
Ofsted's February 2026 inspection judged the school's early years provision Strong standard. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. Relationships and familiar routines helped young children feel secure, while staff worked with families before children started.
Conversation runs through the day. Adults exchange ideas with children, building their vocabulary and helping them practise listening and speaking. Nursery children share stories with adults and take part in activities that develop their ability to distinguish sounds. These activities build practical foundations for reading.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines play with direct teaching. Here, that includes solving puzzles, exploring patterns and learning to give or follow instructions. Children also use cameras and sound buttons to record or create, alongside controllable toys such as Beebots. Digital learning therefore includes hands-on problem solving as well as devices.
The Rhyme Challenge adds a recognisable thread: the aim is to introduce a nursery rhyme each week and weave it into play. Mix a Pancake and Two Little Dicky Birds are among the songs children can learn, with song sheets and videos supporting practice at home. Repetition gives families something specific to share beyond the nursery session.
Creative learning changes with age. Younger children explore paint with their fingers and experiment with marks; three- and four-year-olds develop drawings, mix colours and use pictures to express feelings. Pretend play includes building imagined places with construction materials and developing stories with small-world toys. There is room for children to make decisions about materials and what they want to create.
Settling begins with a stay-and-play session for the child and parent once a place has been offered. Families meet the teaching team and discuss medical needs, diet, toileting and any concerns. This gives staff practical information before the first regular session. Some children can remain in Saplings longer when practitioners consider that appropriate, rather than moving to Oak solely because of age.
In February 2026, early years staff knew families well and worked with parents to support learning at home and school. Children were also beginning to recognise feelings and regulate emotions. Everyday behaviour support uses discussion about choices, feelings and actions.
Fruit is available daily in early years, and children bring a named bottle containing water. Parents provide packed lunches; nut products must be kept out of lunchboxes because of severe allergies. For additional needs, the school's support structure includes a SEND coordinator team, with concerns raised through the office. Children on the SEND register have a Success and Achievement Plan with individual targets presented as a learning passport.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority during the child's final nursery year. For September 2026 entry, West Berkshire residents applied through the council's primary admissions service by 15 January 2026.
That cycle included a conditional nursery priority within the oversubscription tie-breakers. Children attending The Willows nursery could qualify if they had Early Years Pupil Premium eligibility between 12 September and 15 January. Parents needed to apply to the council's early years team and identify that entitlement in their school application. Entitlement obtained after 15 January could be considered after the national offer date, provided the child still attended the linked nursery. This was a limited admissions provision, not automatic entry for nursery children.
Term-time sessions run Monday to Friday: mornings are 8:35 to 11:35, afternoons 12:10 to 15:10, and the full-week pattern runs daily from 8:35 to 15:10. Early-week and late-week patterns divide the week at Wednesday lunchtime. Bookings are made for a term, with preferred sessions dependent on space and staffing.
Universal funding provides 15 hours over 38 weeks, starting from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following the child's third birthday. Eligibility-dependent entitlements are also offered. Funding excludes meals, consumables, extra hours and additional activities. The charged lunchtime club is restricted to children taking unfunded full-day sessions. Ask the school for current charges.
Collection and absences. Children must be collected at their session's finish; late collection attracts charges. Chargeable sessions remain payable during absence, including illness. These terms matter when planning work and backup collection.
Request an application pack or arrange a nursery tour through the office on 01635 42155 or office@willows.w-berks.sch.uk.
Children can attend from two years to four years eleven months, starting in the term after their second birthday. Saplings is the two-year-old class; Oak serves three- and four-year-olds.
Yes. Morning sessions run from 8:35 to 11:35, Monday to Friday. Allocation depends on capacity and staffing, and bookings are made for a term.
After a place is offered, parents attend a stay-and-play session with their child, meet the teachers and share information about diet, health, toileting and concerns.
No. A separate local authority application is required. For September 2026 entry, qualifying nursery children entitled to the Early Years Pupil Premium Grant could receive conditional tie-breaker priority, rather than a guaranteed place.
Parents provide packed lunches when needed and a named water bottle containing only water. Early years children have fruit daily. Lunchboxes must exclude nut products because of severe allergies.
