Who we are

Willow Tree Preschool is a non-profit organisation that was established in 1990 by a small group of parents whose dedication and interest in preschool education laid the foundations for the group we have today. Their insistence upon good quality equipment and care, together with an enthusiastic and determined approach to the changing needs of our community remains an underlying aim of the parents who now manage the group. Willow Tree Managers are on the partnership board of the Langley Green Children and Family centre, where we contribute and receive information and support for all our children and families.

Where you can find us

Who we are We are based at Cherry Lane Adventure Playground where we also have our ‘Willow Woody’ Forest School sessions led by trained staff, providing holistic outside learning experiences. Cherry Lane Adventure Playground, Cherry Lane, Langley Green, Crawley West Sussex, RH11 7NX, 01293 516873. The setting is next to Cherry Lane Playing Fields with great open outdoor spaces, forest areas, and daily access to outdoor play equipment.

What we can offer

We offer Preschool places to children aged 2 -4 years and we have a well-trained team of staff led by Early Years Professionals. We can offer your child the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfill their potential. We know that all children develop and learn in different ways, and we ensure that within our provision we provide good quality experiences for all children, including children with special education needs and disabilities. Through respect for each child’s ethnicity, culture, religion, home language, family background, learning difficulties, disabilities, and gender we work within the Early Years Foundation Stage 2017 (EYFS) framework to support your child’s individual development pathway. By providing support, stimulating resources and rich learning opportunities, children are encouraged through their self-initiated play and adult-led activities, to take risks safely and explore the world around them. They do this through a daily flexible routine which is

Come and meet us

Please feel welcome to come in and have a look around the setting, this will allow you some time to see the children at play, talk to the staff and get a feel for the pre-school setting.

Our sessions

Pre-School sessions Our pre-school sessions run from 8:45 am to 11:45 and 11:45 to 2:45pm. Children staying for the pm session should bring a packed lunch.

Development

We want your child to feel happy and safe with us at Willow Tree Preschool, and from the start your child will be assigned a key person who will help ensure that, in partnership with you, their care is tailored to meet their individual needs.

Your child’s key person will also maintain a journal detailing their achievements during their time with us, and will liaise with you regularly to ensure that your child has appropriate learning goals and next steps to promote their development. This is part of the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance which ensures that your child receives a broad range of knowledge and skills that will provide the right foundation for future progress through school, education and life.

Parental/Carer involvement

It is important to us that parents and carers feel that they are able to play an active part in this exciting phase of their child’s life. At Willow Tree Preschool we value your input and support in the many different experiences that we like to offer to the children. This includes working with us to support your child’s learning as well as visits to theatres, museums, farms. We also hold regular parent workshop days and welcome parents to come and spend time with us during the session. As a registered charity, the Trustees ensure that we provide a high quality service that works in partnership with parents/carers, other professionals and our local community. Our Trustees are elected by the parents of the children who attend the setting. The elections take place at our Annual General Meeting, and the Trustees are responsible for employing and managing the staff, managing the setting’s finances, policy and procedure writing, fundraising, organising events and of course, baking cakes.

Children are eligible for a funded place as follows:

Some 2-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of government-funded child care. Eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to get up to 30 hours a week (if taken term time) of Free Early Education and Childcare from September 2025. This entitlement will be rolled out in phases starting from April 2024.

All 3-4 years olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free early education/childcare for 38 weeks of the year from the term after their third birthday. Some families of 3-4-year-olds may also be eligible for 30 hours of free early education/childcare per week over 38 weeks of the year if they meet the relevant criteria. Alternatively, parents can pay for their child’s preschool sessions subject to availability and contract. All funded places are subject to availability please speak to staff for more information. For more information about eligibility please see the website www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

Costs and Fees

Preschool Fees

Willow Tree Preschool charges by the session, each session is 3 hours.

The three hour session fee is £17.64 , you can pay each time your child attends or for several sessions in advance.

Government Funding

Children are eligible for a funded place as follows:

Some 2-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of government funded child care.

All 3-4 years olds in England are entitled to 15 hours free early education/childcare for 38 weeks of the year from the term after their third birthday. 

Some families of 3-4 year olds may also be eligible for 30 hours free early education/childcare per week over 38 weeks of the year if they meet the relevant criteria. Alternatively, parents can pay for their child’s preschool sessions subject to availability and contract.

All funded places are subject to availability please speak to staff for more information. 
For more information about eligibility please see the website www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs.
 

If my child is too sick to come to preschool, do I still have to pay for the sessions?

If your child is ill, or does not attend preschool for any other reason, you still have to pay for the sessions he/she has missed. If, however your child will be absent for any length of time, please discuss this with the manager.

Please call, text or email us if your child is ill or unable to attend. If your child misses sessions and you don’t let us know why they are absent, we may offer their place to another child. If your child has a government-funded place but does not attend, and you don’t tell us why, you may lose the funding and have to pay for the sessions yourself.

As a WSCC (West Sussex County Council) registered preschool we are able to apply for Government funding-this is available for children aged 3 and 4 from the term after they turn three. A new funding period starts at the beginning of September, January and April each year. Your child will be eligible in the funding period AFTER their third birthday. So if your child’s third birthday is in mid-August, his/her funding will start in September. If, however, his/her birthday is in October, he/she won’t be eligible for funding until January. This means your child can have up to 15 hours (five sessions) in the preschool and you don’t have to pay! This is subject to sessions being available. Don’t worry about claiming funding yourself – we will tell you when your funded sessions will start and you will be asked to sign a parent declaration claim form.

Please note that your child must attend regularly, especially in the week that the head count is carried out, in order to qualify for funding.

Partnership with parents

Our pre-schools create opportunities for parents/carers to become involved with their children’s education. We recognise that parents/carers are the primary educators for their children and by contributing to their children’s time at the preschool can help towards their child’s experience being a positive and rewarding one.

Staff will send out information by way of a newsletter or updates. There is also a parents/carers survey which is distributed twice a year, this helps us understand your needs better, so that we may continue to provide the high-quality service that you want.

The preschool will share information and encourage parents/carers to take an interest in the child’s development by keeping them informed of the activities on offer. The staff will take time to speak to all parents/carers keeping them up to date with their child’s development; this will include looking through their development record.

We like to invite parents/carers to share many experiences with their children, at the end of the summer term for those children who are leaving to start school they are involved in a play which those parents/carers and family and friends are invited to. This also happens at the end of the December term when we have our nativity.

Our preschool offers the opportunity for parents/carers to stay in a session if they would like to visit. You may find that you have a spare morning or afternoon when you can come in to read with the children or help with their activities.