Little Willows Kindergarten

Joicey Road, Low Fell, Gateshead NE9 5AT
9.9 137 Reviews
  • Little Willows Kindergarten, Gateshead

Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Owner

  • Tanya Vadhera
  • Privately Owned

Person in Charge

  • Vicky Rounthwaite (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 17

Total Places for Children

  • 120

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Parking

  • The nursery have ample parking behind the building.

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Little Willows Kindergarten Reviews (137)

9.9

Little Willows Kindergarten has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.856) out of 10, based on 40 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Little Willows Kindergarten has 137 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to Little Willows Kindergarten
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Total of 137, showing 1-20
Review from Paul W (Father of Child) published on 30 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
Some positives
Love the environment that my child goes to at Little Willows. The staff are very friendly and create amazing relationships with each child. The space itself is awesome and each area has a purpose. Recently upgraded their garden space.


Some negatives
Some things which have been voiced

previously have not been acted on. The food aspect is a concern. My child went through a period of having beans or spaghetti hoops for their hot meal each day for a long period of time and only has vegan/vegetarian options despite not being one. When being picked up, staff would share that they had enjoyed watching a programme on TV rather than any other activities they had done throughout the day. This happens regularly. Management shared from a parents meeting that some improvements were needed but these don't seem to have been acted on, such as the food aspect and photos uploaded on blossom. The sustainability fees are also very expensive when compared to other nurseries close by.
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Review from Tan S (Mother of Child) published on 6 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Little Willows Nursery for almost three months now, and our experience has been nothing short of amazing. They are truly understanding, caring, and genuine people who always go the extra mile. Communication is excellent, I always feel informed and involved, which gives
me so much peace of mind.
What stands out most is how much my daughter looks forward to going to nursery every day. When I pick her up, she sings the songs she's learned and, in her own little words, excitedly tells me about her day. I'm genuinely amazed at how much my daughter has grown in confidence and independence in such a short time. Little Willows has played a huge part in this transformation, and I couldn't be more grateful.
If you're looking for a nursery where your child comes home happy every day and wakes up excited to go the next, Little Willows should be at the top of your list. We feel incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful Nursery just a stone's throw away! <3
Reply from Little Willows, Director at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is always lovely to read reviews about how happy and settled not just the children are at Little Willows but the parents too! Thank you for your amazing review!
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Review from S T (Mother of Child) published on 5 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son is really loving nursery at the moment. He skips out the door and comes back telling us about his day. We see all the lovely crafts and activities the children are doing and love how thought out these are to support his development. Thank you for taking such good care of him, the team's hard
work doesn't go unnoticed. We're lucky he loves it so much!
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is amazing to hear how much your son is loving nursery and enjoys telling you all about his day! Thank you for choosing Little Willows for his child care!
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Review from T L (Mother of Child) published on 4 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my daughters have attended your nursery and had a wonderful time. Learnt so much and made lots of amazing new friends. They have given my girls confidence help with potty training and also speaking and playing/ being creative. The staff are all lovely and welcoming. We will miss yous all when we
leave!! 100% recommend this nursery if you are looking for somewhere for your children.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is lovely to hear how much both your daughters have enjoyed their time here at Little Willows! Thank you for leaving us such a high recommendation.
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Review from Megan H (Mother of Child) published on 4 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy started Little Willows last September and as the academic year is finishing I couldn't be happier with the experience we've had this past year. He has absolutely thrived, he has made so many friends and loves going to nursery so much. Every day he has a new story to tell about what he's
gotten up to and the changes in him developmentally have completely stunned us. We can't wait to see how much more fun he has for his final year at nursery next year!
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
That makes us happy to hear how pleased you are with your little ones development while he has been up in our Pre-School room. WE can not wait to make more happy memories and stories with him in…read more
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Review from Jay H (Father of Child) published on 14 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our little boy only goes to nursery once a week and is often upset on drop off. He has started to settle down through the day is visibly starting to enjoy nursery more. The updates the nursery put on through the day about his meals, sleep and photos of things he's been getting up to are invaluable to
us. All the stuff know him by name, despite only going once a week.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Nursery Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is lovely to hear how happy you are with nursery and how settled your little boy is with us.
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Review from L M (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Willows are always so accommodating to us as a family. Whenever we have needed extra help or support with regards to having our child in for an extra day they have been happy to help. Our daughter thoroughly loves going to nursery and the transition from home to joining nursery has been a smooth
one thanks to the caring and kind staff.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Nursery Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
Your very welcome, thank you for your lovely words about us! Its so lovely to hear how much your daughter enjoys coming to Little Willows.
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Review from S A (Mother of Child) published on 10 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended this nursery since 14 months old and is thriving. They were extremely accommodating of her disability and have become one of her biggest ambassadors. They adapt activities for each child's ability, allowing all children to join in. My son has now joined too. The food is accommodating
for allergies and dietary requirements and the nursery managed to help my son on an amazing nap schedule after I'd struggled at home.
They both come home happy, having had a fun-filled day in the sandpit, the garden, the tuff trays, playing in the home corner or at the art table. They've made some lovely friends and the nursery is excellent at organising activities relevant to current events, they've just celebrated Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day with themed activities and we are looking forward to National Love Your Pet Day this week in circle time.
The staff are lovely and genuinely care about the kids, we often see staff out and about and they're so happy to see them.
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Review from N M (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has attended the nursery for over a year and has thrived in the setting. It makes such a difference when your child looks forward to going to nursery! Keeping the parents up to date with daily activities and photos gives peace of mind throughout the day and always coming home with crafts and
lots of chatter about what they have done today. Lovely staff who made my child really feel settled. Really happy with our choice of nursery and would recommend to others!
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Nursery Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
That is great to hear how happy you and your child are at Little Willows. Thank you for your lovely review!
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Review from S E (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love Little Willows Kindergarten and would highly recommend it to anyone in the area. The staff are friendly and welcoming, dietary requirements are accommodated and our son gets to take part in plenty of fun activities during his sessions. The site feels tucked-away and secure which really puts
my mind at ease. Little Willows has really helped our son develop his confidence, independence and social skills. He's always excited for his sessions, I'm so glad we picked this nursery.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Nursery Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It's great to hear how happy you are with Little Willows and how your mind is at ease when you're leaving your little one with us! Thank you for choosing us and leaving a lovely review!
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Review from Jennifer B (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter attends one day a week and she always seems to have such a lovely time. She picks up new words and songs regularly and I never worry when leaving her.
There's an app that gets updated throughout the day and it's nice to see the things she gets up to.
She has a genuine relationship with
the staff members who care for her.
The outside space is limited although looks lovely and well cared for. The food options sometimes seem simple but they do change regularly. Would love it if the app was updated more regularly but would prefer the staff aren't stretched in trying to keep it updated.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Nursery Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
Thank you for your review and lovely words about our staff team. We have recently had 2 of our gardens completely renovated and hoping to have them available for the children again this week. Photos…read more
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Review from Katie A (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We've been with Little Willows Kindergarten since 2019, with both of our children attending, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The staff are fantastic, so caring, attentive, and dedicated to creating a nurturing environment.
Our son had such a wonderful time there that he was genuinely sad to
leave when he moved on to primary school. His graduation ceremony was such a special and thoughtful event, a perfect send-off that we'll always remember. Now, our daughter absolutely loves attending, and she has formed such a strong bond with her key worker. It's clear that the team put so much effort into making every child feel valued and supported.
The nursery also goes the extra mile to create magical experiences, from the fabulous Christmas carols to all the fun activities they organise throughout the year. We feel so lucky to have found such a warm, welcoming place for our children's early years.
A huge thank you to the team at Little Willows for everything you do.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Nursery Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
Your review is lovely to hear. We pride ourselves on inclusive practice and meeting all of our children's individual needs, no matter what they may be! More fun and special experiences to come in…read more
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Review from M G (Mother of Child) published on 28 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff have been amazing and accommodating with getting our baby settled in and making sure they know his routine to make the transition as smooth as possible. We feel really comfortable leaving our baby with the staff at Little Willows and love how bright and spacious the building is!
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Nursery Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is lovely to hear how happy you are at Little Willows and that you found your settling transition went smoothly. Thank you for your review.
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Review from Edana K (Mother of Child) published on 26 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Here's a positive review for Little Willows Nursery:
Fantastic nursery with a warm and caring environment!
I can't recommend Little Willows enough! From the moment we walked in, we felt the warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff are incredibly kind, attentive, and genuinely care about the children's
well-being and development. My daughter absolutely loves going each day, and it's wonderful to see how much she has grown in confidence and learning.
Communication with parents is excellent, and I always feel reassured that my daughter is in the best hands.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is lovely to hear how happy and settled you and your little one are at Little Willows and how welcomed you feel in our nursery. Thank you for your lovely review.
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Review from Rachel H (Mother of Child) published on 21 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I could not recommend Little Willows enough!
The staff are brilliant and amazingly supportive. My SEN son attended for 2 years, and Little willows couldn't have been more accepting and accommodating.
It's a lovely comforting environment for children and parents. We loved it and were genuinely sad
to leave.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Director at Little Willows Kindergarten
Thank you for your lovely words. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive setting for all of our families, it's so good to hear how happy you and your son were with us.
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Review from Alex T (Father of Child) published on 20 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Little Willows for the past 18 months, and we couldn't be happier! The staff are absolutely wonderful, so warm, caring, and attentive. They provide a fantastic range of activities throughout the day. My little one always comes home excited to share what they've been up to!
The nursery does a great job of keeping parents informed with regular updates and photos, and the nursery frequently invites parents to join in on special sessions and events. It's such a welcoming and nurturing environment!
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
Thank you for a lovely review! We love having our families in to share special moments with us, we have plenty more planned for 2025!
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Review from Fiona R (Mother of Child) published on 20 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended Little Willows for 3 years and loves it there. The staff are really friendly and welcoming to her as well as myself and her older sister when we pick her up. She enjoys all the activities and always tells me what a fun day she has had.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is great to hear how happy your little girl is at Little Willows and that she has fun when she is here!
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Review from N C (Mother of Child) published on 20 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our eldest has attended Little Willows since he was 12 months old, and our youngest from 9 months. Both are thriving in the supportive and nurturing environment the staff provide. Both children are thriving and speak enthusiastically about their time in the Nursery. I recommend Little Willows to everyone
I know.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is lovely to hear how happy your children are and how enthusiastically they speak about nursery!
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Review from Ray W (Father of Child) published on 20 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A great little nursery. Well run, with friendly management and staff. Always communicative. My child loves going and has improved their education significantly. Sometimes the meals they have seem to be very basic but overall extremely happy with this nursery.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
Thank you for your lovely review! We are currently looking at amending our menus, so will be looking for parent and child feedback and suggestions soon.
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Review from Nicholas O (Father of Child) published on 20 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The whole team are excellent, and always friendly when I drop my daughter off and collect her again.
She seems to really enjoy her time there. they have a very good variety of activities and learning possibilities scheduled on different days. She really enjoys the yoga as well.
Highly recommend them.
Reply from Vicky Rounthwaite, Manager at Little Willows Kindergarten
It is lovely to hear how much your daughter enjoys coming to Little Willows and taking part in our Yoga Sessions! Thank you for your review!
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.856)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.856) out of 10 for Little Willows Kindergarten is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 40 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 39 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.856 for Little Willows Kindergarten is calculated as follows: ( (420 Excellents x 5) + (51 Goods x 4) + (4 Satisfactorys x 3) + (2 Poors x 2) + (1 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 478 Ratings = 4.856
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Willows Kindergarten is based on 39 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 120 number of registered child places is 24, which has been reached with 39 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Meet the Team (0)

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Frequently Asked Questions about Little Willows Kindergarten

What is the Age Range of Children that Little Willows Kindergarten accepts?

Little Willows Kindergarten accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Little Willows Kindergarten Open?

Little Willows Kindergarten is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.

How many Children does Little Willows Kindergarten have capacity for?

Little Willows Kindergarten has capacity for a total of 120 Children.

How far is Little Willows Kindergarten to the centre of Gateshead?

1.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Little Willows Kindergarten to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Little Willows Kindergarten has an Basic Service - more info.