Arksey Willows
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Doncaster for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2022. Open since 2014, with 24 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Doncaster
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Doncaster from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
DN5 0TEWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 5 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy to start the day at this warm and welcoming nursery. Children feel safe and secure in the care of familiar staff who know the children well. Staff plan activities around children's interests and to build on what they already know and can do. Staff use these activities to help children to build their vocabulary and mathematical language. For example, they talk about 'big', 'high' and 'tall' towers in the construction area and 'crunchy' and 'crispy' autumn leaves in the heavy-duty plastic tray. Children are given time to think about what it is they want to say. Staff take their time when listening and speaking to children.
Children engage in a range of activities indoors and outside. They are encouraged to climb, jump, balance and dig in the well-equipped outdoor area to promote their physical development. Children are very independent. They attempt to put on their own waterproof suits and coats and help themselves to an umbrella before venturing out into the rain, where they enjoy splashing in puddles. Children benefit from an external football coaching company visiting each week to develop children's physical development. Children talk about how much they enjoy these sessions. Staff provide a well-equipped creative area to give children the opportunity to develop their fine motor skills. Children strengthen their muscles in preparation for writing by mark making and squeezing and modelling play dough.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help children to develop an understanding of the world and the diverse community in which they live n support staff to help children to resolve conflicts for themselves.
- 5 October 2022Good
- 12 January 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Arksey Willows
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.