Willow Tree Pre School
GoodTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Milton Keynes for from 2 years up to school age, open 08:15 to 16:30, 5 days a week. £8.00 an hour for 2 year olds, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024. Open since 2011, with 32 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
| Age | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 year olds2y to 3y | £8.002 year olds | |
| 3 to 4 year olds3y to 4y | £6.503 to 4 year olds |
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
Funded hours
Government's free funding for childcare for children, beginning in the term after their 3rd birthday, as well as 2 year funding for those that qualify.
Worth knowing. Funded hours will be used first and fees charged for anything over the funded hours.
What childcare usually costs in West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
MK19 6HJWhat 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, 28 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and engaged at the safe and welcoming pre-school. They settle quickly, seeking out reassurance from warm, kind staff. Children develop strong bonds, which helps them to develop their sense of well-being and belonging.
Children's physical skills are supported well by staff. For example, while benefiting from fresh air in the garden, children are encouraged to scramble up steps and push themselves down the slide. They control their movements as they push the pedals on tricycles to make them move. This helps children to build their coordination and balancing skills. Staff constantly praise and encourage children by saying, 'well done, you're doing really well.' Children smile widely as they are praised, and continue to repeat their actions.
Staff are skilful at helping children to take responsibility of their pre-school. For example, children put toys away when asked. They help to tidy and wash up plates and cups after snack. This helps children to take pride in their environment.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the feedback and quality of monitoring on staff practice to enhance the quality of education.
- 28 February 2024Good
- 17 April 2018Good
- 7 November 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Willow Tree Pre School
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £8.00 an hour still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.