The Willows Primary School Nursery Review

Talking, stories and growing independence give the early years at The Willows their character. In June 2025, children gained confidence through varied activities, with effective adult support for their language development. Physical development was a weaker part of the picture.

This is The Willows Primary School’s own nursery, for children from age three, on Greatbatch Avenue in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 10 and 11 June 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school.

Language gives parents a useful starting point for understanding the learning here. In June 2025, adults helped children expand their vocabulary and develop their speaking skills effectively. Activities also encouraged children to become more confident and independent, so the learning involved both communication and managing more for themselves.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the named curriculum framework. Its practical emphasis here includes language, independence and physical development. Nursery learning resources include Numberblocks, nursery songs and rhymes, and Shape – Patterns. These give families concrete starting points for sharing number ideas, language and patterns with their child. Nursery curriculum strands also cover drama, writing and reading, while Nursery Termly Stories gives books a named place alongside those strands.

Outdoor activity includes Nursery Autumn Walks associated with The Willows Outdoor Workshop, or W.O.W. However, physical development needs attention. In June 2025, children had too few activities that developed their physical skills, limiting their progress. Adults’ checks on achievement in this area were also inconsistent, weakening the planning of what children should learn next. Outdoor activity alone should therefore not be read as assurance that this aspect of learning was effective.

Settling was a positive early-years finding in June 2025: children adjusted successfully to school life. Alongside their increasing independence, this matters for families whose child is beginning to spend time away from home.

Parent workshops have named themes: Make Talking Time, Sow the Seed to Read, and Songs and Rhyme. Their focus gives families a connection with the nursery’s language and reading work, with talking and sharing stories as practical points of contact between home and nursery learning.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

The application route is www.stoke.gov.uk/admissions, with the school office offering advice. For the 2026/27 intake, nursery and Reception had different application opening dates. Those dates are now past; families should use the council’s admissions service for the relevant application cycle.

Nursery provision is funded for 15 hours, with an option to increase to 30 hours through funded hours or a top-up payment. This gives families a choice about the amount of nursery time, while the route to the additional hours matters when planning childcare. Ask the school for current charges.

For enquiries, contact the office on 01782 233280 or email office@willowsprimary.com. Families can also contact the office to arrange a school visit, giving them a direct route to discuss joining the nursery.