The Willows Nursery School

232 Hall Street, Warrington WA1 2BW
Review Us
9.9 61 Reviews
  • The Willows Nursery School, Warrington
The Willows Nursery School provides children with safe and vibrant environments in which they can learn and play.

Multi-coloured and sensory surroundings filled with stimulating, age-appropriate activities, have all been tailored to suit the needs of developing minds and bodies, and aid them in their initial stages of education and advancement.

Daily show rounds are available Monday to Friday; please book a show round to find out what makes the nursery so special.
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Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lucie Swift and Helen Dodd (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 22

Total Places for Children

  • 95

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

The Willows Nursery School Reviews (61)

9.9

The Willows Nursery School has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.870) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Willows Nursery School has 61 reviews.

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Review from Jagoda M (Mother of Child) published on 2 December 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has had a brilliant time at The Willows Nursery since joining in September. At the start she was upset about going in but all the staff have been very caring and are able to comfort her quickly. She does lots of activities and says she has lots of fun. She really likes all her teachers and
has made lots of friends.
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Review from L P (Mother of Child) published on 25 November 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Absolutely brilliant nursery staff are lovely my son loves going to nursery he has learnt so much would highly recommend my s9n is always happy when I pick him up does loads of activities and learning
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Review from B L (Mother of Child) published on 8 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Willows Nursery is a great setting and the staff have gone above and beyond for my daughter. She absolutely loves attending and we always feel so comfortable leaving her here. Could not find fault!
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Review from S S (Mother of Child) published on 8 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending the Willows for almost 4 years and he has had the best experience. He has received the highest quality of care from all of the nursery workers in each room he has been a part of. The nursery staff were quick to identify some issues with his speech and supported his speech
and language assessment and needs that he has now overcome due to their additional support. My son loves going each day, he is very confident, has developed some lovely friendships with staff and peers and enjoys all the activities that they do together. I have found staff to be efficient and have always had a quick response to any questions and had flexibility when required. I would recommend this nursery to everyone. My son feels safe, loved and cared for whilst learning all the skills he needs for 'big school'. We will be sad to leave and thank all staff for their help over the years.
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Review from J W (Father of Child) published on 8 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Willows team always excellent and go above and beyond for Carson. They act very professional and be patient through busy and stressful time. I highly appreciate for their efforts and wish you all continue success.


Thank you

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Review from Joanne S (Mother of Child) published on 7 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We couldn't rate The Willows enough. Our daughter absolutely loves her time at nursery and the staff are always so friendly and helpful. Compared to other nurseries we viewed, The Willows felt a much more welcoming, fun and vibrant environment for our daughter which is why we chose it and it has not
disappointed!
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Review from K C (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Putting the trust of your child's life in someone's hand isn't easy but seeing the way the nursery staff are with my son gives me ease.
My son doesn't settle well first thing but by the time I pick him up he doesn't want to leave. He talks about his day and his friends.
I couldn't recommend this
nursery enough.
The hand over is always detailed enough I can get a clear picture of his day. The staff are so kind and warming, we even get a warm hello on the streets outside of nursery hours / weekends
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Review from D L (Mother of Child) published on 25 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I am very happy with how they take care of my daughter. I can recommend it to everyone, my daughter is happy there, she comes back with a smile on her face and goes there with pleasure, and the ladies are very nice and helpful.
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Review from Jolanta S (Mother of Child) published on 13 November 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Couldn't ask for better nursery and staff for my daughter to be in, simply 10 out of 10 service.
Very helpful bunch of people, my daughter seems always to be happy. Nothing else to say but keep up the good work guys!
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Review from B D (Mother of Child) published on 13 November 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing nursery! My eldest son came here from 9 months until primary school 6 years ago, they were so wonderful with him that my 14-month-old has been full-time since he was 6 months old. Both of them have had milk allergies and The Willows have always accommodated that perfectly. Both my sons have
been so happy and the staff are amazing.
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Review from Ashley D (Mother of Child) published on 2 October 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy has been coming to this nursery since he was 9 months old. He absolutely loves coming to nursery which puts a first-time mum's mind at ease. The staff all know him on a personal level and take care of his needs exceptionally well. They think of all activities that ensure they have fun
but equally also hit their milestones and learn new things. It's really nice to get updates via the app. They have home-cooked meals by the chef and you get a run down after each day of what they've had to eat and how much etc. You have a monthly calendar with events for the month for the children so you can pre-plan clothes etc for the occasion or themed day. It's great that you have a key worker allocated to your child to understand their needs and get to know their routine which I think is imperative. He has come on so much with his speech and understanding of things and activities since starting and nothing is ever too much trouble. It's very safe and never had any issues.
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Review from Leanne W (Mother of Child) published on 11 September 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
What a brilliant nursery this is! My daughter has come on so much since starting here. The girls are absolutely amazing with her and always have so much time for me as well. I feel at ease leaving her as I am a nervous parent when it comes to leaving her. She's always happy and singing when it's time
for pickup. Can't thank the girls enough for taking such good care of my girl.
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Review from E T (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Everyone at The Willows is so nice and welcoming. My little girl really enjoys the varied and age-appropriate activities inside and outside. She's been learning lots of new things since she started in May. The home-cooked meals are great and she's given plenty of fresh fruits as well.
At the nursery,
it's fantastic to see how their key people encourage them to reach all the small and big milestones.
I know that she's safe and in good hands every day when we enter the premises.
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Review from P H (Father of Child) published on 10 July 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter enjoys her time here and has created really strong bonds with the staff, and other kids. She is always doing a variety of activities each day to help her grow, which is great to see. The food is always to a good standard, and more is always available if the kid is hungry. The nursery is
really supportive of changes in circumstances for parents too, and helped me with flexibility on collection when I changed jobs.
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Review from N S (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has come on leaps and bounds. The nursery staff are excellent with my child. I enjoy all updates about what my child has been doing. And hearing about their development. It feels like one big family in there and that's something I really like about the nursery.
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Review from S W (Mother of Child) published on 20 May 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I sent my first two children to this nursery and it was brilliant then (eldest about to start high school). We are now living in a different town but my 3rd also comes here because no other nursery can compare to this one. The staff, facilities, level of care, nutrition etc are all amazing.
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Review from J M (Mother of Child) published on 10 April 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We can't praise the Willows enough. Both our children are incredibly happy there and are learning new things every day! Our 2-year-old's speech has come on leaps and bounds and our somewhat reserved COVID baby's (who's nearly 4) confidence has soured! He runs into nursery incredibly happy every morning
and has made 3 best friends!
All of the staff at Willows are so friendly and show genuine interest in our family and know our children well. The Willows are seamlessly run, nothing is ever too much trouble and we are kept up to date on everything with lots of lovely, varied events on at regular intervals. We can't recommend the Willows enough. Thank you all, for everything you have done for us so far and we know you'll continue to do!
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Review from M D (Mother of Child) published on 6 November 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Our children were very happy at The Willows. Our eldest child would always run into nursery with delight and loves to tell us all about the fun things she'd learnt that day.
The Willows is a very diverse setting, which is something we have always loved about the nursery - our children have learnt
to respect others cultures.
One of our children has health issues and allergies, and they were always adhered to, which gave us huge reassurance.
The meals are varied and nutritious, and a real appeal of the nursery.
The staff are caring and hardwiring. Due to the nature of the industry, we are sad to see some fabulous staff leave the childcare industry.
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Review from Jade T (Mother of Child) published on 10 August 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy has been coming to The Willows for nearly 2 years now. Him starting at nursery had to be brought forward slightly due to work complications and this was a very stressful and upsetting time for myself but the staff were/are absolutely amazing in all situations. I honestly couldn't imagine
leaving my little one at any other nursery.
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Review from Tracey G (Mother of Child) published on 24 July 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been coming to The Willows Nursery School for 1 year now and from day 1 the staff have been so attentive and caring. Everyone goes above and beyond providing a personable experience - it's heartwarming to know that they really do care for your child as you would. The growth I have seen in
my son since he has been there has been phenomenal; he's come on leaps and bounds. They are always engaging with me to ensure that his care is consistent e.g. what we are doing for naps at home / potty training etc. without putting on any pressure. I simply cannot thank everyone there enough for "raising my child just perfectly". Facilities are fantastic and kept well. Meals provided are nutritious (and happy to give extra portions when my son asks!). Location is just perfect for us too.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.870)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.870) out of 10 for The Willows Nursery School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.9 out of 5 from 17 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 4.975 for The Willows Nursery School is calculated as follows: ( (198 Excellents x 5) + (5 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 203 Ratings = 4.975
  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 4.895 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Willows Nursery School is based on 17 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 95 number of registered child places is 19. 17 Positive Reviews ÷ 19 = 0.895
  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 (0)

Meet the Team (2)

Helen

Helen D

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2004

I began working at Willows Nursery School in 2004 only months after they opened, I began in the Toddler Room as a childcare practitioner. Over the years I have been based in all rooms, being a senior in the Baby and Toddler Room. Having this experience helped me to gain the knowledge required to progress onto the role of Assistant Deputy Manager, then to Assistant Manager, and more recently Nursery Manager.


In my new role, I am based within all rooms working with the teams to help to enhance their learning environments and to create the best possible place for the children in our care. I hold a Foundation Degree in Early Years, I am Paediatric trained and also First Aid at work trained. I have an up-to-date food safety and child protection certificate also.

Lucie

Lucie S

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2010

I gained my BTEC National Certificate in Childcare at college before starting at Willows Nursery School. I have worked at Evolution Childcare for 4 and a half years, working in the Toddler and Reception Rooms, before being promoted to Senior Practitioner last year. I was then offered the role of Baby Room Manager and Assistant Deputy Manager. I am now delighted to be working alongside Helen as Nursery Manager.


During my time at Evolution Childcare, I have completed many other qualifications, including Team Leadership and Equality and Diversity. I currently hold certificates for Food Hygiene and Paediatric First Aid and have also gained my Early Years Degree.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Willows Nursery School

What is the Age Range of Children that The Willows Nursery School accepts?

The Willows Nursery School accepts Children aged from 0 years 2 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is The Willows Nursery School Open?

The Willows Nursery School is open: 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.

How many Children does The Willows Nursery School have capacity for?

The Willows Nursery School has capacity for a total of 95 Children.

How far is The Willows Nursery School to the centre of Warrington?

0.2 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 The Willows Nursery School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Willows Nursery School has an Enhanced Service - more info.