About Us
More About Us
We are proud to promote outdoor learning in Slough. This combined with our other core values makes us quite unique!
Our background as childminders has influenced the type of nursery setting, we are. We have visited other nurseries and we noticed children were often split into different rooms according to their age. Outdoor play was often limited to set times with typical nursery play equipment.
We were used to childcare being in the home, involving children in everyday tasks such as preparing meals and going shopping. We have combined our childminding practices with a nursery provision and created Blue Willow.
What we Offer
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor play is vital for young children to be able to explore, risk-take, nurture confidence, fine and gross motor development and communication and language skills. Nature provides all these opportunities in abundance without the need to provide artificial equipment in an enclosed environment.
Nature Group
Our Outdoor Oracle at Blue Willow supports the outdoor environment for children and runs our Little Saplings Nature Group.
Blue Willow children enjoy:
· Stacking and rolling tyres down the mound in the construction area
· Make petal potions in the mud kitchen
· Burying acorns in the sandpit.
· Collecting autumn leaves and make leaf mobiles
· Counting conkers
· Lying down and watching the changing clouds in the sky
· Finding their binoculars to take part in squirrel watch
· Going on a nature hunt
Homely Environment
Our aim is making sure children feel safe, secure and happy as they would in their own homes. We are more than a childcare setting. We are an extension of home, with comfy sofas, lamps, rugs and a record player that plays a variety of music as children arrive!
The nursery is open plan, with designated cosy areas. We’ve used warm, natural colours to provide a calm and tranquil environment. Children are greeted individually as soon as they arrive. They choose their welcome stone which is taken to their key worker for comfort and reassurance, before they get on with their day.
Children are encouraged to get involved in daily tasks. Thy will help practitioners feed the fish, water the plants and sweep the floors. When they are happy and engaged, they are learning all the time.
Authentic and Natural
Resources at Blue Willow are kept as natural as possible. We have spent many hours with our teams in antique stores and car boots looking for curious items that will inspire curiosity and open-ended play.
A plastic telephone that lights and up and rings will entertain a child, but it is limited to do one thing and used for one purpose. However, if you replaced the phone with a stick for example….
Mixed Aged Socialising
Blue Willow has 2 age groups of children, Yellow Beeches is 0-3 years and Green Elms is 3-5 years.
Each group has different areas of the nursery as their base, but we operate a free flow environment. Children can play and explore their favourite areas of the nursery and play with friends and siblings easily.
We believe mixed aged socialising support children’s development, and comes from a childminding aspect. Older children learn how to be caring and tolerant towards younger children, and younger children mimic and learn from the older children. In our experience, it works really well.
Confident, Independent Children
We believe in promoting the fundamental building blocks that create happy, confident, and capable children.
Blue Willow children play outside and learn to risk take in a safe environment.
They are involved in daily tasks setting the table and sweeping the floor.
Regular exposure to mathematics and literacy through play ensures they are strong and equipped to learn when they start school.
We want children to make secure attachments, and be confident around adults and other children. We encourage friendships, sharing and the ability to do as much as they can independently.
Dedicated Practitioners
Our practitioners are the most valuable resource we have. They are hardworking and passionate about working with children. They will work closely with families to make sure children are happy and achieving their goals at Blue Willow.
