Nonsuch Park Forest School, London Lodge

Woodland, a fire pit and learning in changing weather give London Lodge its character. This purpose-built setting occupies a half-acre site in Nonsuch Park, with access to its woods and historic gardens. Forest School here means practical outdoor play and regular woodland exploration, helping children develop an appreciation of the natural world.

At its 4 December 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged every evaluated area to be Strong standard, including achievement, teaching, inclusion and wellbeing, and found safeguarding standards met. The detail gives that judgement substance: children balanced on a slack line, discussed how to climb a slippery hill and helped shape the design of a climbing frame. Physical adventure had a clear educational purpose.

There are 60 places in total, and children can join the forest from their second birthday. Attendance includes full days and a separate, shorter fully funded session pattern.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning and care: play, conversation and practical activities develop skills across the areas of learning. Forest School adds a concrete outdoor approach alongside those requirements. Regular woodland visits make the natural world part of the learning environment rather than an occasional destination.

In December 2025, practitioners used children's interests to shape activities. Counting ladybirds became an opportunity to explore numbers, language and mark-making. Children also contributed ideas for a new climbing frame, discussing its design and the slides they wanted. These examples show children having a say in an activity while adults extend the learning it offers.

The physical challenges were equally specific. A rope helped children pull themselves up a hill; a slack line provided balancing practice in the rain. Adults explained how body position helped with climbing, giving children language for what their muscles were doing. Younger children matched autumn leaves against colour charts, while older children considered how the weather changed their grip on the hillside.

Outdoor and Community Life

London Lodge's half-acre site connects with the wider grounds of Nonsuch Park. The woodland and historic gardens provide different surroundings for exploration, while year-round access makes seasonal change part of the experience.

In December 2025, much of the learning happened away from the premises. Children used a woodland base camp and learnt boundaries for exploring it, alongside rules for the fire circle. They also made salt-dough decorations and took part in a weekly music lesson, so the day extended beyond climbing and woodland investigation.

Caring for Trevor the tortoise brought another kind of responsibility. Children also helped grow and prepare food. Regular family events included a bonfire celebration, a nativity performance and special people day, which recognised important adults in children's lives; grandparents could contribute to gardening. These were practical ways for families to participate in nursery life.

Relationships and Communication

In December 2025, key persons knew children's routines and individual needs, with time allowed for rest and emotional support. Sleep and care routines moved at an unhurried pace. That matters in a setting with an active outdoor day: physical adventure needs space for recovery too.

Communication linked home and nursery practice. Parents and practitioners used matching strategies, while the communication app had a multilingual option to help families exchange information. Attendance follow-up was specific: an unexplained absence prompted an app message, followed by a telephone call if parents did not respond. This gave staff a clear account of who was attending and who would collect each child.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the December 2025 inspection, Ofsted found highly effective individual support, including coordination between two special educational needs coordinators, key persons, families and external professionals. Practical mechanisms included visual cards shared with home, social stories for routines and group work on recognising emotions.

Development checks for two-year-olds took place within the first six weeks in December 2025, allowing concerns to be discussed with parents and support planned promptly. Children needing help with attention used individual lanyards during safety discussions, followed by conversations with their key persons. Support was attached to actual activities, including understanding woodland safety instructions.

Breakfast and lunch are provided hot, alongside snacks in the morning and afternoon, with alternatives arranged through the administration team. A nursery assistant prepares meals and snacks, giving food preparation a place within the staff team.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is London Road Lodge, London Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT17 2DL. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm, across 51 weeks of the year.

Full days run from 8am to 4.30pm, with a minimum commitment of two days each week. A separate fully funded pattern runs from 11am to 4.30pm on certain days, using 5.5 funded hours per session, up to 11 hours weekly. These are different attendance arrangements, with different implications for the family timetable.

Christmas closure lasts one week, and the nursery also closes on bank holidays. Full-day invoices are divided into 12 equal monthly payments, payable in advance before the first of the month; fees also apply during sickness and holidays. General enquiries can be made on 01372 855846 or through the new-enquiry route.

Funding and Paid Extras

The universal 15-hour entitlement begins in the first term after a child's third birthday. It and eligible working parents' 30-hour entitlement are offered on a stretched basis across 51 weeks. The weekly funded allocations are 11.17 and 22.34 hours respectively, with up to six funded hours within a full day. Hours beyond the funded allocation are paid privately.

For funded full days, meals and snacks are charged separately, and the group-wide Enhanced Provision Fee also covers activities, outdoor equipment and consumables such as wipes and sun cream. The shorter fully funded sessions carry no additional charges, so the charge structure depends on the attendance pattern. A high-visibility jacket can be purchased or borrowed daily.

A deposit is required, with a non-refundable administration element where applicable; the refundable balance is returned on the final invoice provided no fees remain outstanding. The nursery participates in Tax Free Childcare. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees and funding terms explain the payment structure.

• An outdoor day in every season. Woodland visits and weather-dependent physical challenges are central to the experience. During a visit, ask how rest, clothing changes and shelter fit your child's needs.
• Two different attendance patterns. Full days require a two-day weekly commitment; the shorter fully funded sessions start at 11am on certain days. Consider how each pattern fits work and collection arrangements.
• Funding and the final invoice. Funded full days combine entitlement hours with private hours and additional provision charges, while the shorter fully funded pattern has no additional charges. Compare a written quotation for the attendance pattern you intend to use.

London Lodge suits families seeking outdoor learning through regular full days or the shorter Fully Funded Places sessions. Its strongest evidence combines ambitious physical play with practical support: children tackle woodland challenges, while visual prompts and familiar home strategies help individual children participate.

The December 2025 next steps asked leaders to sustain standards and pursue further improvements in children's experiences and outcomes. For parents, the main decision is whether this active, all-weather approach and its attendance arrangements fit their child and family routine.