Partou Willowdene Day Nursery & Pre-School
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Widnes for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2023. Open since 2015, with 76 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 Halton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Halton 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
WA8 6SJWhat 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.
- 17 October 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 19 June 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 25 October 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive eagerly to this nursery. Leaders and staff plan an exciting curriculum that considers children's interests and next steps. Overall, the curriculum is implemented well. Staff have created interesting learning environments that excite children. Babies explore flour with their hands and feet and giggle as staff sprinkle it over their toes. Older children paint their hands and arms. They shout, 'My hand', as they print it on paper. Staff support children to be independent. Children fill up their own cups with water and serve their own meals. Children are confident in their own abilities. Staff make good use of assessments to identify when children may benefit from extra help in their learning. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works closely with external partners to create tailored plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). All children make good progress from their starting points.
Staff model respectful relationships as they ask permission from children before they change their nappies. As children wake up, staff offer them lots of cuddles and reassurance. Children respond positively to the expectations from staff. For example, they eagerly help to tidy away the toys before lunchtime. Children have formed loving bonds with the staff and each other. They demonstrate caring behaviours as young children gently rock baby dolls and take them to enjoy a story with staff. Older children play cooperatively and work together to extend play ideas.
Children respond well to the staff's high expectations for their behaviour.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the organisation of mealtimes to better support children's communication and social skills n embed professional development opportunities for staff to address minor inconsistencies in the quality of care and education.
- 25 October 2023Good
- 20 April 2022Good
- 12 September 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Partou Willowdene Day Nursery & Pre-School
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.