‘We are very happy with Willow Tree Nursery. Our son started in September 2023. It was his first experience of nursery and he was very shy, nervous and upset without us and especially with ‘strangers’.
We have found his key worker Ramona and all the other ladies at the nursery amazing. They really help XXXX to feel safe and special at drop off to make it as comfortable as possible.
XXXX confidence, language and behaviour has come on leaps and bounds since attending Willow Tree. He is learning phonics, doing great mark making at home and working on writing his name.
He enjoys all the activities the ladies set up for him, they use animals and little world items which he loves so it keeps him interested.
He really loves forest school and PE which is done in the school hall. This is great as he will be going to this school in September.
We’re so happy with the nursery and so pleased XXXX is there, happy and thriving. He will miss it very much when it’s time for him to move on.
Thank you very much
’
– Parent
‘After a fantastic experience with our eldest daughter at Willow Tree it was an easy decision to make that we would send XXXX too! As parents we couldn’t be happier with the care provided by all staff at the nursery, we’re always greeted with a smile on arrival and a genuine interest in how our evening/ weekend/ half term has been.
XXXX is now in her second year at Willow Tree and has really formed a special bond with every member of staff, she speaks highly of every adult, this just shows the time taken by the staff to ensure the children feel safe, valued and respected whilst in nursery and the high level of care provided by all. We talk often about her time at nursery when at home and she tells us that she particularly enjoys arts and crafts on offer and of course Forrest School! The fact that after half term XXXX was keen to come back after having time off is a great comfort as I know she is happy and comfortable being at nursery whilst my husband and I are working.
We really couldn’t ask for more. Sally and the whole team do a fantastic job and we would recommend Willow Tree Nursery to any parent!
’
- Parent
‘Both our children have attended Willow Tree Nursey. Our oldest daughter attended for 2 years prior to school and other daughter is there now. She has been there since September 23.
My husband and I both have a very good awareness of safeguarding due to our occupations. Sending our children to nursery was quite a big decision for us. When we attended Willow Tree for a viewing , we instantly felt at ease with the environment and I got a really ‘good feeling’. The staff interact with the children in a nurturing way and all the children looked happy and secure.
Sally and the rest of the staff were engaging and supportive and answered all our questions. This was towards the latter stages of covid so had been a difficult time for all concerned. However, this did not effect the transition into nursey.
I can honestly say that in 2.5 years, I have not had one single complaint or concern about anything to do with the nursery. They take safeguarding very seriously. We have always been updated and contacted about anything. The children have always been happy and bonded so well with all the staff. I have really noticed the progression in the children around their learning and they often tell me about their interactions. There is a wide variety of activities and the opportunity for outdoor play on a very regular basis. They do different topics and learn new things.
The staff are exceptional. Sally is always on hand to answer questions and is so friendly and warm. There is no rush with getting the children out and they take time to keep you informed about the children and their activities. Each staff member is caring, engaging and professional. Ramona really helped us with our youngest when she first attended as she was initially upset at leaving me and her dad. However, Ramona
built up her trust and confidence and gave us advice around this. They also called me to tell me how she was settling and checked on me. She now skips in and loves her time there.
We received reports and information via evidence me and a really good monthly newsletter.
I was also really impressed with how well prepared my oldest was for school by the environment and interaction which came from the nursery.
It was a really big thing for me to leave my children in the care of a nursery but I have felt 100% happy and reassured with every day they have been there. I cannot recommend this nursey enough.
’
- Parent
‘XXXX started at The Willow Tree last year and he absolutely loves it. I previously worked at a nursery in Stratford for many years which went downhill fast, and I regretted putting my son there whilst I worked. We have now left, but because of this, I found it very hard to trust a nursery again with my little boy. This setting has reassured me that this is a nursery that will care for my son correctly, are able to meet his needs, and is somewhere where my XXXX is very happy and safe, which is the most important thing to me.
The nursery staff are consistent, you know who is caring for your children every day. I really love that this is the same people all the time, it brings a sense of security and allows XXXX to really build a good relationship with the staff. He often tells me that they are his ‘Best friends in the whole world’. They are always so friendly, chatty, and helpful. If I ever call the nursery, they are always happy to talk, and genuinely show an interest in anything you have to say. They are so welcoming in the mornings, and really care about what XXXX has been up to, in and out of the setting.
The staff always have time for XXXX and listen to whatever he has to say, showing a genuine interest. XXXX is under Speech and Language and ENT. He has had hearing difficulties which has therefore affected his speech. I have always communicated appointments and updates with the girls, and they have always been really good at taking the information on board. They also have always kept me up to date with any struggles he has had in this area during the day at preschool which has been really helpful. I must say that XXXX’s speech since being at preschool has improved massively. I’m so proud of how far he has come and I must thank the girls for a big part of his progress. They have been so patient with him.
The space that the children have is perfect, it’s enough to meet their needs and has many different areas for them to explore and meet different interests. XXXX particularly loves playing the variety of farm animals they have, and the different materials he uses to create his own farm. The girls always tell me how good he is at this and using his imagination which is lovely. He is always trying new activities which we don’t have at home too which is great to see.
I am also always happy with the number of children I see in the room, it’s never too crowded, and the children are always occupied, whether they’re exploring themselves or engaged in a practitioner-led activity. The room always looks lovely, decorated with the children’s art work and feels very homely for them.
The outside area is also great, it’s well secured so I wouldn’t ever have any safety concerns. It’s sectioned out well into different areas for them to explore, exercising many different areas of their learning and development. My son really loves being outdoors and is always quick to tell me what he’s been doing outside; whether this be finding bugs or riding the scooters.
The routine they have in place with drop off and pick ups is great too, it runs smoothly and by not having people inside the building coming and going, it’s ensures that the children are kept safe and the staff can have one to one time with each parent collecting. This way the staff always know who is in the building at all times, alongside the singing in and out form which is always presented to the parents at the door at drop off and pick up times. XXXX is always calm and happy to go in because of how smoothly this runs and he knows the same thing happens each time he’s in.
We are always informed via email of things going on with the nursery, and also the board outside is always up to date with the days activities etc. We receive newsletters, and get to see lovely activities on our online profiles and Facebook page which is really nice to see what the children have been up to. We are always emailed for things which require consent, e.g. photos of our children on social media, and also to be made aware of things like the photographer coming into the nursery.
XXXX is really happy here and always has so much to say about the friends he’s made, the staff who care for him, and all the things he gets up to. It’s so reassuring to know that my son is thriving, building his confidence, and making friends, in a place which is nurturing and secure. I trust this place 100% with my child’s care.
’
- Parent
‘Our son has been attending Willow Tree since he turned 2 years 9 months old. We are very happy with the level of care and support he has been receiving here, so much so that we have already added his baby brother to the waitlist. I also want to note we travel to this nursery half an hour from Redditch Worcestershire, which shows how much we value our son's place here.
When initially looking at nursery places, we found many nurseries put in a minimum requirement for the child to attend for 2 full days a week (claiming the child does not settle in with anything less). We really liked that Willow Tree has no such restrictions, allowing us to start our son on 2 half days and build him up to full days when we as a family wanted to make the change. He settled in immediately on just half days, so we see having the flexibility to choose what hours you do as nothing but a positive.
It was a big step for us as parents sending our eldest to nursery for the first time, so we also liked how welcoming Willow Tree were in allowing us to attend a couple of 'stay and play' sessions several months before he started. Seeing him happily playing and interacting with the staff helped to put our minds at ease in the run up to him joining, as we could see how much he was enjoying being there. Sally was so friendly, welcoming and informative that we left with such a good impression of everything.
Communication with Willow Tree is excellent. Whenever we email Sally with an update or a question she always replies instantly. We feel relaxed when our son is at nursery that he is in safe hands and we like that without him realising it's helping him prepare for school. He's made so many friends here and settled in so well, always running in excited to play and learn.
He talks fondly of his time there when he's at home. He regularly sings 'the super manners song', uses Makaton signs he's learned and talks happily about what he's been doing with staff and his friends. We feel well informed in how he is doing as we have regular progress chats with his key person at pick up. We also get photos and updates on the 'Evidenceme' App, and when we do we really enjoy seeing those.
We like that there is a clear structure to the day, as we know children really value their routines and it was most important to us that its getting our son ready for school. He often tells us about register time and sitting with the other children for story time, which are great skills to practice. We also like the variety of things he does there. This ranges from free play with his favourite sand pit with diggers, to being read to, to playing games and singing songs with other children, to potting plants, to role playing, to decorating the nursery Christmas tree and so on. One of our favourite memories was watching him stand with the other children singing Christmas songs to all the parents. All the children stood so nicely and we were amazed at how many songs and actions they'd all remembered. It is a treasured memory.
In summary, our son settled in so easily into Willow Tree, he runs in every time happy to be there. Seeing him so happy makes us happy, and we look forward to his baby brother repeating the same when his time comes.
’
– Parent
‘We are very happy with Willow Tree Nursery. Our son started in September 2023. It was his first experience of nursery and he was very shy, nervous and upset without us and especially with ‘strangers’.
We have found his key worker Ramona and all the other ladies at the nursery amazing. They really help XXXX to feel safe and special at drop off to make it as comfortable as possible.
XXXX confidence, language and behaviour has come on leaps and bounds since attending Willow Tree. He is learning phonics, doing great mark making at home and working on writing his name.
He enjoys all the activities the ladies set up for him, they use animals and little world items which he loves so it keeps him interested.
He really loves forest school and PE which is done in the school hall. This is great as he will be going to this school in September.
We’re so happy with the nursery and so pleased XXXX is there, happy and thriving. He will miss it very much when it’s time for him to move on.
Thank you very much
’
- Parent
‘We are incredibly grateful for the positive environment and exceptional teaching provided at our child's nursery. The dedication and enthusiasm of the staff create a nurturing atmosphere where our child feels valued, supported, and eager to learn. Every day, we witness the passion and creativity infused into the curriculum, fostering our child's growth and development in profound ways.
The nurturing and inclusive approach not only cultivates academic excellence but also fosters social-emotional skills, instilling confidence and a love for learning. We couldn't be happier with our choice of nursery, knowing that our child is thriving in such a wonderful educational environment.
Sally and the team at Willow tree nursery have created a solid foundation for our son’s learning and we can only hope his future education mirrors the exemplary standards that they have set.
’
- Parent
‘Our son XXXX has been attending Willow Tree nursery since September 2023. Since he’s been there we have noticed how happy and confident he is. He talks to us about his day, telling us details of the routines they have in the nursery, comes home singing new songs and sharing new skills he’s learnt. We have a good relationship with the staff, as does XXXX, who gets on well and speaks positively of all the staff. Communication with the nursery is good. We are really pleased with the provision and feel confident in the level of care provided for XXXX.’
- Parent
‘The Willow Tree Nursery School has such an inviting atmosphere and I can’t recommend it enough to everyone I know. The staff are absolutely fantastic and will go out of their way to accommodate us all. It was ‘home away from home’ and my daughter loved going and never once refused to go. I was amazed at how much XXXX grew in confidence in the year she was at nursery and learnt so much from all the daily variety of activities organised by the staff, which was all educational. So far we have had two of our daughters in The Willow Tree and hope our other two daughters will have the privilege of experiencing what The Willow Tree Nursery School has to offer.’
– Haniyyah (Parent)
‘XXXX has been coming to nursery for 18 months and has enjoyed every session. He has always gone into nursery happy and come home happy. He enjoyed all the different activities including the ‘show and tell bag’ and taking home Billy Bear for the weekend. He has liked growing tomatoes and sunflowers, baking cakes, being given ‘jobs’ to help with amongst many other things. Thank you for making XXXX’s time at nursery so enjoyable for him (and us)!
-Jenny (Parent)
‘All staff have been great! XXXX has really enjoyed her time at nursery. She chats about the staff and has a special bond with her key worker. XXXX enjoyed all activities and I know that the staff are lead by her interests – especially with her love of dressing up! We will be sad not to be part of the Willow Tree Family and would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.’
-Donna (Parent)
‘The staff of willow Tree Nursery work diligently to deliver a stimulating, caring and enriching experience for all their children. Children are well prepared for transition and come into school ready to learn. Staff ensure that individual needs are addressed and all children have activities tasked and paced with these needs in mind. Staff at Willow Tree Nursery are professional,dedicated and experienced in providing an excellent start for pupils in their care.’
-Laurie Whiting Deputy Head @ Bidford on Avon Primary School
‘We have a long-established relationship with Nursery which enables a smooth transition of all pupils. Documentation and dialogue facilitates the continuous good practice of both settings. Throughout the academic year opportunities for visits, collaborative experiences and enjoyment of the physical environment has a positive impact on all pupil’s learning.’
– Karen Bent (Reception class teacher at Bidford Primary School)
I feel so lucky that my daughter attended The Willow Tree Nursery for 2 years. Within their care she has blossomed from a shy, nervous toddler into a confident, enthusiastic, ready-for-school child. Their philosophy and environment offers nurture, care and warmth and encourages children to find and celebrate their own uniqueness! Staff go ‘over and above’ to meet the children’s needs and offer parents support and guidance when needed and I never once worried or fretted whilst my daughter was in their care. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone and would encourage parents to choose The Willow Tree Nursery for their children.’
-Jennifer (Parent)
‘Every member of staff is welcoming, friendly and approachable. My daughter is so well cared for during her time at nursery and I have no worries about leaving her. XXXX’s confidence has grown so much – she talks a lot at home about the adults, her friends, what she has learned and is forever singing nursery songs. The nursery environment is bright and encouraging and looks very accessible to the children.’
– Laura (Parent)