Willows has been like an extension of our family for the past 4 and a half years, taking care of our three daughters. They have provided the most wonderful experiences and start in life for our girls and filled them all with confidence ahead of starting school. I don’t know what we’ll do without the amazing teachers in our lives when our youngest girls start school this September. Thank you for everything, Willows!
Welcome to Willows Pre-School / Nursery
Hello, I am Dr. Kevin Rigley, the CEO of Willows. I took on this role in 2017 after my wife, Galyna, passed away. I was adamant that Galyna’s legacy, the WillowsWay®, her pioneering pedagogy that has been helping children thrive for more than fifteen years, would continue to provide children with the best possible start in life, I immersed myself in the field of childhood education and explored various teaching methodologies and styles.
It became apparent that the last decade has seen an explosion in scientific understanding of how the brain works. I am pleased to say that the latest science now explains why the Willows Way has been so successful in helping children thrive.
With a successful background as an immunologist and extensive experience in scientific research, I bring a unique perspective to early childhood education. My journey into education revealed that many teaching methods, including familiar pedagogies like Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Forest School, are based on observations by psychologists and educators. However, I found a crucial gap: there was little research into the physiological processes that underpin learning. While many studies focused on the outcomes, they often overlooked the underlying causes and the unique needs of each child.
Leveraging my scientific expertise, I have delved deep into how the environment affects brain development in children. This approach has given me valuable insights into creating an optimal learning environment for children at Willows Pre-School.
For those interested in my scientific work, my bibliography is available here.
Willows is proposing a new perspective on learning. The evidence is clear, learning is an inflammatory process, which needs the appropriate balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators. I don’t want to lose you in the science, but the theory is strong, it is gaining support and importantly it helps to explain and predict a lot of what we are seeing in our children.
I published the theory in “SIPS: Building a Better Brain,” and the findings will be expanded upon in a forthcoming book, “Inflamed Minds: How Modern Life is Breaking Our Children.”
In practice, the theory advocates teaching and raising our children in ways that we intuitively know are right but which we have perhaps slightly lost sight of over time. It says that we should nurture and respect what each child needs. In today’s modern environment, we have sacrificed what was once an ideal childhood.
If we could use a time machine, we’d see that it truly takes a village to raise a child. Children played on the streets in all weathers until they were exhausted, ate natural foods and sometimes even yesterday’s dinner for breakfast, and bathed in the gratitude of friendships and a loving family.
They learned through play, guided by older heroes and mentors. This wholesome, community-driven upbringing is what we have lost, replaced by the pressures and isolation of contemporary life. The science tells us that we need to be more aware of what we expose children to.
Please know that I do what I do because I want the best for our young children, and that my thinking is backed up by decades spent in the scientific method.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us. We look forward to welcoming you and your children to the Willows community.
Welcome to Willows Pre-School / Nursery
Hello, I am Dr. Kevin Rigley, the CEO of Willows. I took on this role in 2017 after my wife, Galyna, passed away. I was adamant that Galyna’s legacy, the WillowsWay®, her pioneering pedagogy that has been helping children thrive for more than fifteen years, would continue to provide children with the best possible start in life, I immersed myself in the field of childhood education and explored various teaching methodologies and styles.
It became apparent that the last decade has seen an explosion in scientific understanding of how the brain works. I am pleased to say that the latest science now explains why the Willows Way has been so successful in helping children thrive.
With a successful background as an immunologist and extensive experience in scientific research, I bring a unique perspective to early childhood education. My journey into education revealed that many teaching methods, including familiar pedagogies like Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Forest School, are based on observations by psychologists and educators. However, I found a crucial gap: there was little research into the physiological processes that underpin learning. While many studies focused on the outcomes, they often overlooked the underlying causes and the unique needs of each child.
Leveraging my scientific expertise, I have delved deep into how the environment affects brain development in children. This approach has given me valuable insights into creating an optimal learning environment for children at Willows Pre-School.
For those interested in my scientific work, my bibliography is available here.
Willows is proposing a new perspective on learning. The evidence is clear, learning is an inflammatory process, which needs the appropriate balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators. I don’t want to lose you in the science, but the theory is strong, it is gaining support and importantly it helps to explain and predict a lot of what we are seeing in our children.
I published the theory in “SIPS: Building a Better Brain,” and the findings will be expanded upon in a forthcoming book, “Inflamed Minds: How Modern Life is Breaking Our Children.”
In practice, the theory advocates teaching and raising our children in ways that we intuitively know are right but which we have perhaps slightly lost sight of over time. It says that we should nurture and respect what each child needs. In today’s modern environment, we have sacrificed what was once an ideal childhood.
If we could use a time machine, we’d see that it truly takes a village to raise a child. Children played on the streets in all weathers until they were exhausted, ate natural foods and sometimes even yesterday’s dinner for breakfast, and bathed in the gratitude of friendships and a loving family.
They learned through play, guided by older heroes and mentors. This wholesome, community-driven upbringing is what we have lost, replaced by the pressures and isolation of contemporary life. The science tells us that we need to be more aware of what we expose children to.
Please know that I do what I do because I want the best for our young children, and that my thinking is backed up by decades spent in the scientific method.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us. We look forward to welcoming you and your children to the Willows community.
Check Out Our Willows Pre-School London Nurseries
The Willowsway®: Nurturing happy, Resilient Children at Willows Pre-School
Welcome to Willows Pre-school! We are excited to introduce you to the WillowsWay®, our unique approach to early childhood education designed to help your child become the best version of themselves.
At Willows Pre-School, we believe that happiness is key to a child’s success and well-being, and we have crafted our educational philosophy around this idea. Here’s how the WillowsWay® makes it happen.
The WillowsWay® is based on the latest brain science, emphasizing the importance of what we call autonomic flexibility. This is a fancy term for the body’s ability to adapt to stress and stay calm under pressure. When a child has good autonomic flexibility, they can handle life’s ups and downs with more ease and joy.
Our approach focuses on four key areas: good nutrition, regular exercise, practicing gratitude, and building meaningful relationships.
Good Nutrition
What your child eats can greatly affect their mood and ability to concentrate. We provide balanced, nutritious meals at Willows Pre-School to ensure that your child’s brain and body are fueled for learning and growth. A healthy diet helps reduce inflammation in the body, which is linked to lower stress levels and better emotional health.
Regular Exercise
Physical activity is not just good for the body; it’s also great for the mind! Exercise helps kids manage stress and improves their mood by boosting happy chemicals in the brain. At Willows, we incorporate plenty of fun, active play into each day to keep your child moving and smiling.
Practicing Gratitude
Teaching children to appreciate what they have can lead to increased happiness and reduced anxiety. We encourage our students to express gratitude daily, whether through simple thank-you or more structured activities. This habit helps them focus on the positive aspects of life, promoting a happier outlook.
Meaningful Relationships
Strong, supportive relationships are crucial for emotional well-being. At Willows, we foster a warm, inclusive community where children learn to build friendships and feel connected. These positive interactions are foundational for developing confidence and resilience.
What Parents Say
G R (Mother of Child)
Day Nurseries
We have two children attending Willows and feel so grateful that we have been able to secure a spot for them both at such a fantastic nursery. They both love attending and the staff feel like family! The staff go over and above to make sure children have a positive experience and we will be sad when our time comes to leave!
They have varied meals and a great outdoor space. There is a calendar of trips each month and this is always a highlight for my children!
C F (Mother of Child)
Day Nurseries
We love Willows, it is a brilliant caring nursery that provides excellent care and teaching! Our two sons have both been there. Our youngest is still there and our oldest is at school now. Most of the staff have been there throughout which is very important for the children and the parents and is definitely not standard at other local nurseries which have a high staff turnover. The menu that the children receive is fantastic, very healthy and varied and all home-cooked. The activities that they do are all well organised and very varied, they do weekly cooking, music and frequent trips to local parks libraries and museums. The highlight is also the Christmas and spring shows as well that they put on! Would highly recommend Willows!
Alice P (Mother of Child)
Day Nurseries
Willows provides a warm and nurturing environment for children from the age of 1. Our son has been attending for a year and a half and we are always in awe of how well they know him and understand him. Always celebrating and encouraging his interest, he goes in skipping, excited to see what they have in store that day. Communication is great and we have always felt up-to-date with general information as well as information specific to our son. There is a lot of interaction between staff, parents and carers with open mornings where we are given the opportunity to see what a day in the life of a Williows child is like and the reasons behind why they prepare the activities they do, termly parent meetings, key date celebrations such as mothers/important women’s day, plays and productions, sports day and multicultural celebrations. There are frequent opportunities for our son to take part in local trips as well as ones further a field such as the trip to a museum in London. An amazing childcare setting.
S S (Mother of Child)
Day Nurseries
Willows Pre-School Colliers Wood is an excellent nursery. Our daughter has been going there since she was one. She loves it there and we as parents love it too. Willows staff have supported our daughter throughout all the stages of her development with care, kindness, competence and dedication. We are very happy with the nursery and grateful to the staff for their great work.
L M (Mother of Child)
Day Nurseries
Willows Colliers Wood Nursery is great! My son loves it, he’s been there for 2 years, made lots of friends and learning a lot every day. Staff are very kind, professional and supportive. I would not change this nursery for any other one.
