Willows Farm Day Nursery

Willows Activity Farm, Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans AL4 0PF
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9.8 115 Reviews
  • Willows Farm Day Nursery, St Albans
Willows Farm Day Nursery & Pre-School in London Colney, near St Albans, offers high-quality childcare and early years education for children aged 0 to 5.
Set within the beautiful surroundings of Willows Activity Farm, the nature-based nursery gives children the freedom to explore, learn, and grow through play.

Willows Farm Day Nursery follow the Forest School approach, encouraging confidence, independence, and curiosity through outdoor learning and hands-on experiences. From caring for animals to planting seeds in the gardens, every day is an opportunity for discovery.

Conveniently located just off the M25, Willows Farm Day Nursery welcome families from St Albans, London Colney, and across Hertfordshire.
The qualified team provides a nurturing environment with dedicated baby, toddler, and pre-school rooms, plus access to funded childcare places for eligible families.

Discover why parents call Willows Farm Day Nursery one of the best nurseries in St Albans for outdoor, farm-based learning - book a visit to Willows Farm Day Nursery & Pre-School today.
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Funding & Fees

Full-day session: 7:30 am - 6:30 pm
Morning session: 7:30 am - 1:00 pm
Afternoon session: 1:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Each situation is different and bespoke to your childcare needs. To find out more about our fees, please do get in touch so we are able to build a profile and give you a breakdown of what we believe best suits your child’s needs.

Contact Willows Farm Day Nursery to get a personalised quote.

Contact Willows Farm Day Nursery to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lucy Nicholson (Senior Childcare Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 70

Total Places for Children

  • 188

Age Range

  • from 0 years 2 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

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

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Willows Farm Day Nursery Reviews (115)

9.8

Willows Farm Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.838) out of 10, based on 50 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Willows Farm Day Nursery has 115 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Total of 115, showing 61-80
Review from V K (Mother of Child) published on 21 October 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Most amazing nursery and staff. My son attended from 2 years old until 4 and I was delighted with the level of care he received and variety of activities he engaged in. I could not have chosen a better nursery for my son.
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Review from K W (Mother of Child) published on 18 October 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son attended Willows Farm Day Nursery and he enjoyed every single day. The facilities, food, farm visits and staff were all excellent and we would highly recommend this nursery to anyone.
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Review from S R (Grandfather of Child) published on 15 October 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My three year old grand daughter has just started at the nursery and the staff could not have made her (and my daughter, her mother) more welcome and at ease. All the staff were superb and clearly love looking after the children. Thank you.
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Review from D K (Mother of Child) published on 22 September 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy started at Willows Farm Day Nursery when he was 11 months old and had recently left as he is starting school. During his time he has loved coming to nursery and has received excellent care and teaching. He has thrived at Willows Farm and it has helped him become a happy and confident boy
who started school this week with all the necessary skills needed for a successful school start. My little girl who is 2 is also at Willows Farm Day Nursery and loves going there. She has made lots of friends and loves playing in the wonderful outdoor environment that Willows Farm provides. The workers in her room are enthusiastic and caring and I can go to work knowing she is having a great day. I would recommend Willows Farm Day Nursery to everyone who wants their child to have a nurturing and happy nursery experience.
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Review from Rachel N (Mother of Child) published on 22 September 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Willows Farm Day Nursery since Christmas 2019 and has loved every minute of it. All the teachers are great with the children, she has always loved the food provided and we have been so happy with how far she has come since attending the nursery. Thank you to all of her
teachers who made her time amazing there, we are gutted she no longer attends but looking forward for my youngest to join your school!
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Review from Jen O (Mother of Child) published on 26 August 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Willows Farm since January 2019 and he absolutely loves it. The staff are friendly and kind and really take the time to get to know your child. The outside space is brilliant, with regular trips to the farm including the Peter Rabbit live show, Peter Rabbit playground, trampolines
and rides on the tractor. Overall, we are really happy with the nursery and will be sending our second child there next summer when I return to work.
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Review from M G (Mother of Child) published on 26 August 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son who is in preschool started this year in June and settled in straight away. He is so happy there and loves going there every morning. All the staff are lovely and friendly and my son always comes out happy. What is really nice is they take them sometimes to the farm which is nice. They have a
big garden space for the kids to play in and nice outdoor equipment. I would really recommend this nursery to everyone.
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Review from Gina O (Mother of Child) published on 15 February 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My second child is in her second year here and my eldest was at Willows for over 3 years. Both children absolutely love the nursery but from a parent’s view, we had two completely different experiences. The management at Willows has come a long way in the last couple of years and it’s made a huge difference
now that the new managers are in charge. The key workers are experienced and kind and both of my children adored their allocated key workers throughout their journeys. The facilities and variety of activities are great and regular feedback and updates on progress is provided.
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Review from Namrata V (Mother of Child) published on 31 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Willows Farm Nursery since October 2020 and she absolutely loves it, so much so that she sometimes doesn’t want to come back home and looks forward to going in the mornings. That’s the most reassuring feeling as a parent, that your child is happy at nursery. The settling
in process was very smooth and her dedicated key worker always gives up detailed updates about her day. The staff are very friendly and professional and they’ve accommodated for her strict dietary requirements well. They have very good covid safety measures in place and we also really love the fact that she regularly gets to visit the farm and being outdoors.
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Review from Sofia A (Mother of Child) published on 18 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have been in touch with the nursery to arrange my daughters place. Despite all the problems due to COVID-19, all the ladies are always cheerful, kind, ready to help. I can be one of those parents who always has “just one more question” I have never felt I can’t just ring and ask and they are always
patient and encouraging. Exactly the environment I want my daughter to be in. Even though I was only able to view the nursery through an online tour, I still felt so reassured this is the right place for my baby girl. My daughter is so excited to join and I am excited for her. Thank you so much to the manager and her team.
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Review from Mangala M (Mother of Child) published on 18 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our child started here during the pandemic and could not be happier. The daily outings on to the farm reassure us of the level of physical activity and fresh air that she gets. Within a short space of time, her diet became more varied, her sleep improved and she was out of nappies. She asks to go in
on her days off, which just warms our hearts to know that she is happy there. The staff have been so responsive to our needs and we feel that this has been a happy preparation for the next steps in our child's life.
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Review from Marnie F (Mother of Child) published on 18 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Every member of staff is kind, professional and friendly. They will listen to any concerns you have about your child and help with any issues. Being on a farm is the best place. Outside and seeing lots of animals.
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Review from Elizabeth G (Mother of Child) published on 18 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Have been using Willows since my son was in the baby room, he absolutely loves it and is due to start in the nursery/preschool when he is 3. Staff are so friendly and generous with their time, nothing is too much bother and they build great relationships with the children.
The added bonus of Willows
is the frequent trips to the farm; this is both educational and fun for the children. I would wholeheartedly recommend Willows to anyone looking to secure exceptional childcare. Thanks for everything you have done for my son and I look forward to my daughter starting in the next few weeks.
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Review from Sian T (Mother of Child) published on 17 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
As the mother of a child with special educational needs, it was very important for me to find a nursery that were prepared to support us and work together to give her the best start in life. Willows Farm Nursery has exceeded expectations, working with myself and my child's speech and occupational therapists
to supper her in achieving her targets. The SENCo is fantastic, so caring and considerate and all members of staff have gone above and beyond, learning to communicate with my daughter using sign and communication cards. My daughter always has lots of stories to share about her mornings on the farm, riding tractors, holding chicks and feeding the animals. I 100% recommend this fantastic nursery and so sad we cannot stay here for the rest of her education.
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Review from Julie B (Mother of Child) published on 17 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Willow farm is a great nursery. The staff are always so warm and friendly and they all pay such great attention to detail. My oldest daughter, who’s now in reception, still remembers her key workers and has fond memories. My youngest daughter absolutely loves it there and I would definitely recommend
it to others.
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Review from Lisa A (Mother of Child) published on 14 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been delighted with our experience of the nursery since the very first settling in session. The staff are brilliant - warm, comforting, professional and fun - our daughter loves them, especially her fantastic key worker! I also like the environment and the fact she gets to get out to the farm;
at a time when many of us are stuck indoors with activities limited, I've really appreciated the daily farm trips. Highly recommend!
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Review from Geri F (Mother of Child) published on 23 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my girls have attended Willows Farm Day Nursery since they were 1. My eldest is now at school in year 1 and my youngest is currently in preschool getting ready to start school next year. My eldest still has such fond memories of her time at Willows and my youngest loves going in every day. The
staff are caring, attentive and really help to develop and nurture the children. It's been amazing to see the development of our youngest as they start to prepare her for school next year. I couldn't recommend this nursery more highly.
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Review from Jemma W (Mother of Child) published on 23 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are 3 months in from starting at Willows Farm and our son has settled so well, getting the best of indoor and outdoor activities (taking trips to the farm most days) and our son loves it! The staff are also all really friendly and helpful constantly keeping us updated on progress and learning. Our
son's key worker is great!
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Review from Lauren S (Mother of Child) published on 23 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love Willows. We send our 2.5-year-old and our 10-month-old, and both absolutely love it. Our toddler has been attending since 7-months, and everyone in the nursery not just his key worker always knows him and us and is so welcoming. It’s a home from home.
The activities for both children are exciting
and varied, painting, modelling, outdoor games and, of course, trips to the farm, which is one of the things that first drew us to Willows.
They get fantastic meals and snacks, nappies/formula if needed. We can literally drop them off with nothing and know that they are being so well looked after. I cannot speak more highly of them; the staff are amazing. Well done to the whole team for running such a wonderful place.
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Review from Gemma K (Mother of Child) published on 23 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are delighted with our experience of the nursery so far. The communication has been great and it's been wonderful to see how easy our son has settled in. We love the activities that he's been able to take up both indoors and out. We couldn't be happier with our decision to enroll our son here.
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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.838)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.838) out of 10 for Willows Farm Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 50 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 48 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 4.838 for Willows Farm Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (523 Excellents x 5) + (61 Goods x 4) + (8 Satisfactorys x 3) + (4 Poors x 2) + (2 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 598 Ratings = 4.838
  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 Willows Farm Day Nursery is based on 48 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 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 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 188 number of registered child places is 37.6, which has been reached with 48 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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Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (1)

Lucy

Lucy Nicholson

Job Title: Senior Childcare Manager

Hi, I’m Lucy Nicholson, Senior Childcare Manager of Willows Farm Day Nursery & Pre-School! Our Day Nursery offers childcare full of discovery and rich learning experiences, with the daily opportunity to meet the farm animals and enjoy forest school sessions in the great outdoors. We are located in the heart of the countryside of St. Albans, where we provide our children with the best in early year’s education and learn through the ‘Planning in the moment’ child-led teaching approach.

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