We get lots of questions about the different options for booking in at Willow Den – from using funded hours, to private only sessions and also ad hoc booking. So let us break it down for you so when your time comes to join you know exactly what you want.
We offer 5 options for placements so there is something to suit everyone. All our sessions are full days 8am to 5pm and we are open year-round apart from a two-week winter break and three staff training days. Fees are calculated taking into account any planned nursery closures and annualised to give you a predictable monthly figure (where applicable) to help you budget.
Here are the 5 ways you can be a part of the Willow Den family:
1 Private Placements
Your child may be attending another setting for their full funded placement but you would still like them to experience the benefits of a fully outdoor nursery for part of their week. You can chose a fully private option where you pay a monthly fee for attendance. Private sessions can be booked any day of the week Monday through to Friday and there is no minimum attendance requirement so you can chose from 1 day a week up, to suit you.
2 Blended Placements
You may want to use all your funded hours at Willow Den but you also require additional hours. In this case you can book a blended placement of 3 days or more. You will then have a small monthly payment for the non-funded element of your placement. Sessions can be booked Monday through to Friday.
3 Funded Placements
If you want your child to receive their full funding at Willow Den but you do not need any additional private hours we offer fully funded places as 2 days per month from core days Mondays to Thursdays and then flexi-Fridays which you can either book on a routine pattern or on an ad hoc basis each month.
4 Split Placements
A split placement is where you chose to spread your child’s funded hours between settings. We are happy to accommodate split funding – just let us know the details of the second setting and how you wish to split the hours. You will just need to ensure your second setting is also willing to accommodate a split placement, and the hours for any single setting is above the minimum threshold of 380/1140.
5 Holiday Club / Forest Fridays
If your child attends another nursery as their usual nursery – maybe a term time nursery or a more traditional indoor nursery – that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on all the opportunities on offer at Willow Den at Spartans outdoor nursery. You can register your child with Willow Den and from their 3rd birthday they can come and join us for Forest Fridays or during one of our Holiday Clubs running in the school holidays.
Forest Fridays are on every Friday 8am to 5pm and can be booked on a pay-as-you-go basis. Once registered you can request dates through our Parent Admin App. With no fixed monthly fees and full flexibility to come when it suits you!
Holiday Club sessions are available during the main school holidays – usually October, February, Easter and four weeks in the summer. Once registered into our online nursery management system, dates and spaces will be confirm with families and sessions can be requested and booked.
With flexible placement options to suit your family’s needs and the chance to use funded hours, Willow Den makes it easy for parents to provide their children with a unique blend of outdoor adventure and education. Don’t miss out on the chance to introduce your child to the magic of nature – enquire about your place today!
