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Unique Learning Without Limits
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What we offer
Little Willows Pre-School believe that every child is unique, which is why we offer a unique learning experience tailored to each and every child.
There is no one size fits all when it comes to discovering and developing new skills, and we foster a learn without limits approach that celebrates each child’s individual progress. We care for 2, 3 and 4 year olds only, and our smaller class sizes enables us to provide a wider and richer learning environment where we meet the children on their individual level. Creativity is at the core of all we do at Little Willows. Our qualified staff prioritise pastoral care and nurture over targets and testing, to develop children’s confidence and self-esteem. By building a solid foundation through play, exploration and learning in their early years foundation stage, we hope to set the stage for confident, life long learning in the future.
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Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
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What we believe
Little Willows promotes the development of independence, confidence and self-esteem, and believes in the innate potential of every child. We seek to provide an inspirational environment for the children to benefit from a tailored educational approach that fully supports and encompasses their needs at a pace and in a manner that promotes the uniqueness of each child. To this end, we have adopted some of the Reggio Approach and the Montessori philosophies to complement and enhance the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
The Reggio Emilia approach requires children to be seen as competent, resourceful, curious, imaginative and inventive, and to possess a desire to interact and communicate with others. It promotes a powerful image of the child, valuing relationships between the children, parents and teachers, it fosters children’s creativity, and understands how children learn.
Montessori is an approach focused on the immense capacity of children to absorb information when given the freedom and independence to learn at their own pace in an environment consciously designed to support the child’s developmental needs.
Laying down sound foundation stones within the EYFS curriculum will improve academic career and life opportunities, and Little Willows combine these to offer the children the very best experience. In combining best practice educational approaches with our overriding ethos of developing self-esteem and independence, we help nurture the growth of creative, spontaneous and autonomous individuals who are empowered to know that ‘they can’.
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Where are we
The pre-school is situated in the heart of Whitnash, on the corner of Franklin Road and Whitmore Road. It has a secure gated entrance and boasts a large internal play space surrounded by a separate cloakroom, sensory space, lobby and quiet area.
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The very best for every child
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Passionate Practitioners
At Little Willows Pre-School we have a close knit team of highly trained practitioners who are dedicated to developing each child as an individual.
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All practitioners support the children in Caterpillars to get to know them as a group before they are allocated a specific key worker in the Butterfly room. Every Butterfly has a key worker who works with your child to ensure their progress is closely monitored and carefully evidenced using photographs and written observations. This is recorded in a file and passed to you when your child leaves. Each key worker is responsible for planning the organisation of learning for the development of your child and includes their physical, intellectual, social, linguistic and emotional needs. They will ensure the provision of an effective early years curriculum that provides for quality learning through observation, record keeping, evaluation and planning.
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Fiona Meades
Administrator
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Afsana Tania
Early Years Assistant -
Tara Markwell
Early Years Practitioner -
Sabeen Hussain
Early years practitioner -
Harriet Tolley
Deputy Manager/SENCO -
Jessica Kyriacou
Early years practitioner -
Rebecca Morris
Early Years Practitioner -
Ella Ware
Early Years Apprentice -
Courtney Hinton
Early Years Practitioner -
Becca Rose
Early Years Assistant
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Stacey Coulter
Manager/SENDCo
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Sue Harris
Chair of Trustees (Safeguarding and SENDCo) -
Stacey Coulter
Manager/SENDCo
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Everyone Welcome
At Little Willows we are fully inclusive and remove all limits from all children. That means no limits on children because of their socio-economic background, no limits because of their race or religion, and no limits because of their gender or physical and mental needs.
We are championing Equal Opportunities for ALL children and we provide exemplary care regardless of their ethnicity and ability. Our sole aim is to develop confident, independent and happy children who know they are valued and are keen to learn. Little Willows have specialist teams who are trained in all aspects of early years education, linguistics, and special educational needs. We will work with you and your child to provide relevant education and learning opportunities alongside realistic yet challenging expectations in a safe environment, free from harassment and discrimination.
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Effective Care
Little Willows Pre-School are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of our team to ensure that we provide the very best child care that we possibly can. We are constantly working to review and evaluate our processes to improve and enhance the care provision offered. As a result of this, we have been recognised by OFSTED as a good childcare provider in our most recent inspection. Here are some of our Inspectors comments:
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“Children are well-motivated by staff’s encouragement and praise for their efforts and achievements and as a result, they are confident and want to do well.” (2014)
“Partnerships with parents, other professionals, social services and in particular with the adjoining primary school, are a key strength of the preschool. Children’s learning is enhanced as a result, in consistent and complementary ways.” (2014)
“Little Willows Pre-School is outstanding in meeting the welfare and learning development needs of all
children.” (2009)“The quality of teaching and learning is outstanding and children are making impressive goals through the stepping stones towards the early learning goals.” (2007)
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Partnering With Parents
At Little Willows we pride ourselves on developing good relationships not only with each child, but also with his/her wider family.
As a pre-school, we are fully committed to supporting you as parents, family members and carers in your role as the first and most enduring educators of young children. We see this as underpinning everything that we do to secure children’s welfare and well being and nurture their learning and development. Working in partnership with parents is an integral part of our vision and values and we are constantly looking at how we can better promote strong, positive relationships between staff and families.
Here are some comments from our parents, please note names have been changed to protect the identities of the children.
“The work you do at Little Willows is beyond amazing. We know from previous experience with Amy the great work you all do with our children and we appreciate it all. Thank you so much for the excellent platform our daughter has been given as she starts her journey into ‘big’ school, you and all the staff have been a part of our family’s life for many years and I am sad this is the end of our journey with you. We wish the pre-school massive success in the future. It really is an ‘outstanding’ place.”
“I wanted to express our deepest thanks for all the hard work you and your staff do to make Little Willows such a special place. Our son has gone from a very shy child, heavily dependent on Simon, to a confident and independent boy. This is due to the way you allow the children to grow and develop at their own pace but also the kindness and support you provide. Sam has enjoyed all aspects of the diverse curriculum which is offered at Little Willows. As both parents and teachers, we have been amazed at the unique and interesting activities that Sam has experienced. He is ready for primary school and I know that this is all thanks to you. He really has grown in confidence and I would like to thank you all for always being so helpful, friendly and reassuring. Little Willows is a place we will never forget and will definitely recommend.”
“Thanks for all the support and guidance, helping us as parents have more confidence in helping Tom.” (Tom was identified and diagnosed with autism during his time at Little Willows)
“I don’t have the words to thank you enough for all the fantastic support with Sophie. We would have been lost without you.”
“Thank you for the time, care and patience you’ve invested into Jacob this year. Little Willows has helped Jacob to develop so much this year and has been an amazing grounding for his reception year. Thank you in particular for your patience with the fact that both John and I have been at work and therefore more disorganised with admin than we should have been. Thank you for all those enrichment activities which have meant so very much to us; forest school, the carol concert, sports day, the farm trip, etc. Jacob has progressed in leaps and bounds this year and I attribute a large part of this to you and your wonderful team.”
“Just wanted to say a huge thank you to you all for making Tanya’s time at Little Willows such a fantastic start to her school life. She has changed so much and is now a very confident little girl who can’t wait to start school. You are a brilliant team and great role models for the children who all thrive in such a positive environment.”
“I would really like to thank you for all your time, effort, care and support in making Lucy’s time at pre-school a very special year indeed. I would particularly like to thank you for your support with Lucy and myself through a difficult time personally. I felt reassured when you explained to me how well Lucy was doing at pre-school at this time. Even when she was frightened and a little scared, she remained happy and stable, and I know how much coming to pre-school helped her.”
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The very best for every child
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Exceptional People, Exceptional Care
The Little Willows team are proud to offer tailored early years care to an exceptionally high standard.
As we continue to grow, we are constantly looking for highly qualified practitioners who are passionate about providing learning without limits. If you think you have what it takes to join our team, then please check here for the latest vacancies or contact us for more information.
Latest Opportunities
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Latest News At Little Willows
At Little Willows Pre-School we like to do life together and this is the space where we share the latest news and events with parents past and present. Please keep checking for updates!
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- May 04, 2020
Forest School
What is Forest School Originating from Denmark in the 1980s and based on Outdoor learning for children. Forest School is [...] - May 22, 2018
Hot weather
Staff can re-apply sun cream but appropriate sun cream must be provided and labelled to be kept in Pre-School during [...]
