FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
- Trained and dedicated staff offering focused and caring childcare from the moment your child arrives to the time they leave to return home
- Countryside setting
- Dedicated drop off and pick up areas and parking for our Nursery customers
- Freshly prepared nutritious meals, snacks and drinks – including a hot two-course meal for the toddlers
- Milk for the babies
- Nappies and creams for the babies
- Full access to Willows Farm Village to enjoy all the adventure play and seasonal farm led activities during nursery hours
- Free tea and coffee for parents
- Parents Evenings
- ‘Planning in the moment’ teaching approach – download our eBook
- Nursery care from 7:00am to 7:00pm
- Graduation ceremony event (when they leave for mainstream school)
Yes! Willows Activity Farm Members receive a 5% discount off the fees for under 3 year olds and 10% discount off children aged 3 and over.
If you are not yet a member we would encourage you to join as the cost of membership will be covered by the discounted fees within the first year and you’ll also have unlimited entry to Willows Activity Farm during weekends – a place your children will love and feel comfortable at in their leisure time too.
To become a member call 0870 129 9718 or click here where you can download an application form.
The registration fee is payable to secure your child’s place at Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School and in non-returnable. Click here to see what’s included in your Registration Pack.
A holding deposit is also payable against the first month’s fees.
All fees are payable monthly in advance by cheque, cash, Childcare vouchers or through your bank by Direct Debit.
We are open 52 weeks per year only closing for the statutory Bank Holidays. Dates at Christmas may vary. We do not offer any refunds for holidays or sickness.
Our registration fee covers the following costs and includes a few goodies too!
- Administration of setting up your child on our systems
- Cost of setting up your monthly Direct Debit (note there is no reduction in the Registration fee if you choose to pay by another method which also have costs attached)
- A FREE Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School back-pack for your child
- Two FREE Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School t-shirts
- A donation to our nominated charity – on your child’s journey with us we’ll introduce them and encourage an age appropriate understanding and empathy for those less fortunate that ourselves.
In accordance with OFSTED, our ratios at Willows Farm Village Day Nursery and Pre-School, are:
- 0-2yrs 1:3
- 2-3yrs 1:4
- 3-5yrs 1:8 (1:13 for Qualified Level 6 Childcare Practitioners)
All employees at Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School are subject to an enhanced CRB disclosure and appropriate references are sought. The qualifications amongst our team meet the current welfare requirements. We have staff with degree level qualifications or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent).
Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School is secured at all times using a Digi-Lock System and people are only allowed to enter the building if recognised by the member of staff opening the front door. We also have CCTV cameras at the entrances.
If you are unable to collect your child, you must inform a member of staff and the password system would be operated to ensure complete security.
Yes! We utilise the local area for outings e.g. walks, a trip to the shops or library. Local trips apply to all age groups; however outings further afield are limited to our older age groups. In all instances additional parental consent is required and all aspects of the outing/trip are risk assessed.
Every child at Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School, has their own key person who gets to closely know the child and their family. This special person will track your child’s development and plan their daily activities, as well as keeping you informed about your child’s day.
All our childcare practitioners also work well as a team and are welcoming and approachable.
Your key person is available to speak with at any time during opening hours or you can make an appointment to speak with them on a more personal level.
Regular parent’s evenings help us to keep you informed of your child’s development. We invite you to come along and discuss your child’s progress … and there’s always a cup a tea or coffee available too!
Yes. We accept vouchers accepts vouchers from the following Childcare Voucher companies:
Allsave Ltd , Care4 Childcare Plus, Childcare Vouchers, Computershare (Busy Bees), Co-operative Childcare, Edenred (Accor), Fair Care, Fideliti, Grass Roots Kiddivouchers, Kids Unlimited, Leap Frog, My Family Care, PES, Sodexo, Tensator, The Salary, Exchange, You at Work
Please contact us for further information if you would like to pay by Childcare Vouchers.
Click here, for more about Government Grants for 3-5 year olds.
If your child becomes ill during their Nursery or Pre-School day then we will contact you. All children will have a runny nose at some time during their Nursery and Pre-School years! We are more than happy for the children to still attend but if your child has a communicable illness such as diarrhoea/sickness, an exclusion period will apply.
Common childhood illnesses and exclusion periods are displayed at the Nursery and Pre-School.
There is a hard copy guide on some of the more complex childhood diseases – if you would like a copy please ask.
If your child is prescribed a medicine we are more than happy to administer it here – children need to be away from Nursery for the first 24 hours after taking it. We cannot administer non-prescribed items other than nappy creams.
Should your child be unwell please let us know if they are going to be absent.
We have an accident policy in place at Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School which all staff are briefed on. We will inform you of any accident involving your child and ask you to sign the accident form on picking up your child. In the unlikely event of a serious injury you would be advised immediately if medical attention was required.
On application for a place at Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School we ask you to provide information of dietary requirements and/or known allergies to ensure individual needs are catered for.
We have a balanced menu ensuring that we meet all food groups throughout the day. Copies of our menus can be obtained onsite. For more information on our catering click here.
We operate a comprehensive SEN and Inclusion policy at Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School. We will work collaboratively with parents and other professionals to ensure the needs of your child are met.
Yes of course! Please email claire@willowsfarmdaynursery.com
Willows Farm Day Nursery and Pre-School is operated by Farm Day Nurseries who operate Day Nursery and Pre-Schools across England. At Willows Farm we also operate Activity Day Camps during school holidays. Click Here for more information.
You will find Willows Farm Day Nursery and Preschool just off the M25 at Junction 22, close to London Colney, St Albans, Radlett and Watford. In fact due to our excellent location we can be reached easily from all over Hertfordshire and North London. Click here for full directions.
Opening Hours
Open Monday to Friday*
7:00am – 7:00pm
* Closed Weekends & Bank Holidays
Contact
Email: claire@willowsfarmdaynursery.com
Call: 01727 829535
