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The Woodlands Nursery

Crow Lane East, Newton-le-Willows WA12 9TX

The Woodlands Nursery, located in Newton-le-Willows, provides a nurturing environment where children can grow, explore, and thrive.

The nursery believes that happy, active children learn best. Its dedicated team offers high-quality early years education centred on outdoor exploration, independence, and emotional wellbeing.

Children enjoy sociable mealtimes and are introduced to a variety of tastes and textures that encourage healthy eating habits. All menus are carefully designed to meet early years nutritional...  

Funding & Fees

7.30am-6pm
£73.00 (under 3's)

£71.00 (age 3 plus)

funding is stretched throughout the year

term time funded only sessions available in preschool

Contact The Woodlands Nursery to get a personalised quote:

Type of Service

  • Day Nursery

Opening Schedule

Open all year

Full days available

Yes

Half day sessions offered

Yes

Group/Owner

Person in charge

  • Emma Gilligan (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 35

Total Places for Children

  • 136

Age Range

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

Meals Provided

No

Consumables provided

No

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 & 1 week at Christmas

Parking

  • A large car park space is available for families and staff members

The Woodlands Nursery Reviews (42)

9.9

The Woodlands Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.942) out of 10, based on 42 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Woodlands Nursery has 42 reviews.

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Review from A P (Mother of Child) published on 9 June 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Changing our child's nursery to Woodlands was incredibly easy thanks to the supportive manager. After a bad experience elsewhere, he previously dreaded going. Since starting here, he has completely thrived and loves "school." When we get close to the building, he gets so excited and smiley, met by staff who match his enthusiasm.
Our child has Global Development Delay, is non-verbal, has a milk allergy, and we're looking into Autism. Since joining, his development has come on in leaps and bounds, he has started walking and making sounds etc. The nursery caters perfectly to his needs. He is a fussy eater, but staff ensure he always has food he enjoys so he can join in at snack time. They also use a "now and next" board to help him follow the routine smoothly.
The nursery is clean and spacious, both inside and out, communication is great too.

We will be forever thankful for the help and support they give us, and for helping him overcome his fear of nursery and being so kind to him.

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Review from C B (Mother of Child) published on 3 June 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My daughter is in the Mini Learners room. She found settling in quite difficult at first, but the team in the Mini Learners room were so supportive and even helped with extra settling-in days, which made a huge difference.
The team are amazing. It's clear how much they care about the children, and I always feel reassured knowing she is in such good hands.

She is now starting to love nursery! I am very happy with the care and support she receives and would 100% recommend the nursery.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your lovely review. We have a very caring and passionate team here at The Woodlands and make coming to Nursery fun and exciting each day.

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Review from A G (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

I am very satisfied with my child's development at the nursery, as well as with the education and care provided there. Whenever there is any issue concerning my child, the staff promptly contact me to discuss it.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for leaving a review. We always like to keep parents informed of any information needed throughout the day.

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Review from Borislava P (Mother of Child) published on 19 May 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

I'm very happy that my child is in this nursery. He is very happy, playful, and really likes his teachers . They take care of him with great love and attention. They give him a lot of attention and teach him new skills that will help him develop quickly. The food I guess is really tasty because he is eating everyday all

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. We have a qualified chef who cooks all of our meals, they are very tasty!

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Review from Tamsin C (Mother of Child) published on 18 May 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

I can't recommend The Woodlands Nursery enough! They have been absolutely fantastic with our son. He joined just a couple of months before he turned one and the care he has received has been exceptional. In a few months, he has already come on leaps and bounds. Nothing is too much for the staff! I can message anytime and always get a reply within the hour. The nursery is clean and the food is great too! The facilities are also fantastic. The outdoor garden is huge! The nursery is extremely secure with a facial recognition system upon entry. The management team are also brilliant too! I couldn't of wished for a better nursery!

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for the lovely review. We have a great outdoor space available for all children to access. We have a fantastic dedicated team at The Woodlands!

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Review from Cerys J (Mother of Child) published on 16 February 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

We absolutely love this nursery. It's always really clean and has such a happy, calm, and welcoming feel. My daughter learns so much here and comes home every week showing us a new sign she's learned, which is lovely to see. She never wants to leave at the end of the day, which says it all. The staff are amazing and make it such a positive place for the children.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. We have home earning outside each room to encourage learning at home following on from learning in the Nursery.

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Review from S T (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My child has come on soo much since starting at this nursery! All staff and lovely and friendly! It's a happy place soon as you walk in, everyone always smiling, and make you feel very welcome, new system has been fitted for security, Face ID witch is amazing and safe! Very clean environment and amazing play area for the children, rooms big and spacious! Best nursery by far!

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. Safeguarding is imperative to us, the face ID is one of the great ways to support this as part of our safeguarding and security of the Nursery.

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Review from E C (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2026 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

The Woodlands has a lovely team, clear communication and most importantly my daughter loves it! The food is varied and healthy, lots of activities are done every day and you're kept up to date on it all!

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. We have a fantastic chef on site who cooks all the meals freshly. We have a variety of food available for the children and our menus are changed seasonally.

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Review from Kelly B (Mother of Child) published on 21 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Our daughter attends Woodlands Nursery, and we couldn't be happier with the care she receives. The team have been absolutely fantastic in helping her settle and adapt, she struggled a little at first, but now she looks forward to going in every day.

The baby room staff are amazing, I can't praise them all enough, so caring, patient, and attentive to our child's needs. The nursery itself is always clean, safe, and very welcoming. You can tell the staff genuinely care and take pride in creating such a lovely environment for the children.

We're so grateful for everything the Woodlands team have done to settle our daughter and make it a pleasant experience for us all. I highly recommend Woodlands.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. We have amazing staff here at The Woodlands and take great care of the staff and children here. We offer a high quality experience for all families.

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Review from Ellen H (Mother of Child) published on 14 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

The nursery is always clean, warm and welcoming. My child loves coming to nursery- she enjoys the staff, the activities and the food. The different age-appropriate rooms mean children can move around as they develop. Would recommend the nursery.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. We have lots of fun activities available every day in the morning and afternoon for the children to take part in.

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Review from S B (Father of Child) published on 14 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Our child has had a really positive experience at Woodlands. The staff are always friendly, provide information about the child's day and have been great with our child. She is always happy to go into nursery and always has a positive day!

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. All our staff are friendly and knowledgeable and give positive feedback every day.

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Review from Elesha L (Mother of Child) published on 14 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

I highly recommend The Woodlands Nursery. My son has attended for the last two years and he's thriving.

The staff are exceptional, friendly and nurturing and I receive regular updates on my child's progress. His speech and language skills have excelled, along with his confidence.

Each room is welcoming and I particularly love how much they spend outside exploring the wonderful gardens.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for the review. We have a lovely large outdoor space, in addition to each room having their own outdoor space.

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Review from R M (Mother of Child) published on 14 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Our son has been at the nursery since he was 9 months old and he's now almost 3, and we couldn't be happier with how much he's developed. He's grown up with a lovely group of friends, many of whom he's known since baby class, and it's been wonderful watching them all move through the nursery together.
The staff are incredibly encouraging and take such a personal approach with each child. They've supported him in so many areas - from learning to speak clearly, to counting, recognising colours, and even with potty training. He loves to tell us what food he's eaten at nursery each day! It's always nutritious and delicious, he always asks for seconds! We're often told how advanced he is, and we know a big part of that is thanks to the amazing care and attention he's received here.

It's a truly lovely nursery with even lovelier staff - always approachable, friendly, and easy to deal with. We couldn't recommend it more highly.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for the review. Every child develops differently, this means we adapt learning for each child to ensure we challenge then and support them in their next steps of learning. Its lovely to see our children start with us in babies and grow and develop all the way to preschool.

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Review from Chloe B (Mother of Child) published on 14 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

All the staff have been very helpful from when I drop my child off and when he leaves nursery. They are very informative and advise you what the course of action they have set in place. As a mum, you want your child to be happy at a place and I know he's safe with is reassuring.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. All staff have excellent communication face to face and through our app.

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Review from Rebecca C (Mother of Child) published on 10 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Our son went to Woodlands for 2 years, passing through little learners and then preschool. Although he was very apprehensive at first, he soon settled in with the amazing staff they have. We visited and scoped out every nursery in the vicinity for our son, and would hands down choose this place over and over. We travelled out of area to take him there because of this, and still do travel from out of area to take our daughter, as there is just no comparison with how good they are in every respect. Thank you for always keeping us at ease knowing our children have been, and will be, looked after in the same way we would look after them, when we aren't there.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. We offer high quality care and provision here at The Woodlands Nursery. We have caring, respectful and long standing staff that work here. We offer a friendly environment for all our children, staff and families.

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Review from H W (Mother of Child) published on 8 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Our daughter has been attending Woodlands Nursery for 2 years now and has always absolutely loved it. The staff have been brilliant with her in every room she has been in and have got to know her so well. I love all the little extra things they have on through the year through the seasons. My little girl is absolutely thriving and has learned so much through all the activities and she absolutely loves how much time she spends outdoors playing with so many different experiences.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your review. We like to get our families involved throughout different types of the year with different competitions and have lots of fun.

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Review from G D (Mother of Child) published on 8 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My little one has been at The Woodlands for just over 2 years now and he loves it. The staff are friendly and approachable and really take the time to get to know all of the children and their families. Each transition has been emotional for my son, but the nursery have supported him, nurtured him, and have communicated with us throughout each move to ensure he feels happy.

Nothing is too much trouble and the nursery encourages you to ring to check in if you have any concerns at all. My son absolutely loves going to 'pre-school' and it is lovely to hear him come out with new things like the days of the week song, new nursery rhymes (twinkle twinkle chocolate bar was a favourite for a while) and talking about things that he has done each day and his friends there. It really is lovely knowing he is so happy there.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for the lovely review. We always try to communicate effectively with our families and staff members. We like to give lots of opportunities for communication and language, some examples of this is action rhymes and creative story times.

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Review from N G (Mother of Child) published on 7 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My son recently started, I was apprehensive at first as I am a first time mother, he settled really well in his first week and I believe that's due to the staffs attentiveness and my son feels comfortable with them. I like that there are a large number of staff ensuring the children are well cared for, I also get the impression that the children are treated as individuals with individual personalities.

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for the lovely review. We have a lot of long standing caring staff here at The Woodlands Nursery. The staff all know each child's interests and do some lovely activities around these.

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Review from R H (Mother of Child) published on 7 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
After viewing all the nurseries in the area, Woodlands Nursery stood out to me and felt like the best choice for my 13 month old daughter. Since starting she has been so well cared for. It's the hardest thing in the world to hand your baby over to be in other people's care but I have always been so impressed with the love and care shown to my daughter during her 18 months at Woodlands, first in Baby Room, then in Tots, and now in Early Learners.
She has always eaten and slept well at nursery and the staff are accommodating of my daughter's vegetarian diet.
The activities my daughter takes part in are fun and engaging. She is always so happy when I pick her up and I can tell that she's had a fun day!
The outdoor space is large and impressive, lots of space for little ones to run around.

My daughter has really advanced since being at Woodlands, her speech is great for her age and she is such a confident little girl, Woodlands has a big part to play in that!

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for the lovely review. Our menus are designed weekly seasonal. We have a chef who cooks all our meals freshly each day. As part of our curriculum we teach all children to become confident, independent little learners and teach them to be curious through indoor and outdoor play.

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Review from Scott E (Father of Child) published on 3 October 2025 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Our Daughter Amelia hs been going to The Woodlands Nursery for almost a year now and has grown so much in that time, we love seeing the activities she does during the day and hearing little stories on pick up about how things have gone. The staff have always been friendly, kind and helpful and its a really positive and nurturing enviroment to be a part of, we couldnt ask for much more! We deinfetly will also be sending out second child here when he time is right!

Reply from Emma Gilligan, Manager at The Woodlands Nursery

Thank you for your lovely review. It's been great to be part of her learning and development over the past year. There are a variety of activities everyday throughout the day for the children to enjoy and be part of.

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Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

News (0) & Events (0)

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (3)

Emma Gilligan Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2024
Emma Gilligan
Hello,

My name is Emma, I have a BA (HONS) in Primary Education, and I have been in the childcare sector for over 20 years. I have a passion for working with children. I have more than 15 years of management experience. I have a young daughter myself who has a hobby in dance. This involves travelling around the UK for dance competitions. I am passionate about giving every child the best possible start in life, and a key strength of mine is having positive, strong parent partnerships with all families.

Brogan Gowenlock Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2019
Brogan Gowenlock
Hello,

My name is Brogan, and I hold a level 3 qualification and have a range of experiences working with different age groups, in particular under 2s. I have 3 children of my own, 2 boys and a daughter. I also have 2 dogs and love to spend my weekends watching my children play football and going on family days out. I have been at The Woodlands since 2019, where I started off as an unqualified member of staff, building myself up to Room leader, Assistant manager and now Deputy manager. My career aspirations are to one day be a manager or open my own nursery.

Lisa Williams Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2017
Lisa Williams
Hello,

My name is Lisa, and I hold a Level 5 qualification and have completed a range of additional training to help support children and families. I have experience working with lots of wonderful practitioners and children who have helped me develop my practice along the way. I enjoy bringing child-centred ideas into everyday practice. I am committed to giving children a nursery where they feel happy and inspired to learn.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time socialising with family and friends. I also enjoy taking my dog, Barney, for walks around the local area and exploring new places.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Woodlands Nursery

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

The Woodlands Nursery accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is The Woodlands Nursery Open?

The Woodlands Nursery 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 The Woodlands Nursery have capacity for?

The Woodlands Nursery has capacity for a total of 136 Children.

How far is The Woodlands Nursery to the centre of Newton-le-Willows?

0.8 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 Woodlands Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Woodlands Nursery has an Enhanced Service - more info.