The North London Forest School Nursery

Forest-school experiences are the defining feature at this 28-place sessional setting in the Undercroft at All Hallows' Church, London NW3 2JP. Ofsted judged it Outstanding in June 2022, finding an exceptionally nurturing setting where children flourished. That dated account gives a clear picture of a small nursery built around relationships, language and outdoor exploration.

In June 2022, the curriculum covered all areas of learning through varied experiences. Play and adult guidance built children's communication, physical, social and early academic development rather than separating learning into school-style lessons.

The strongest detail came from time outdoors. Children acted out familiar stories in the woods, made scented soup with herbs and sang counting songs in tree hammocks. They searched beneath logs for mini-beasts with magnifying glasses, made predictions and extended their mathematics through counting and comparison. Weekly phonics combined songs, dancing and storytelling, while mud and sticks became tools for early writing. These were purposeful experiences, not outdoor time added around the edges.

Relationships were a major strength in June 2022. Staff knew children extremely well, children formed strong bonds with adults and the language-rich environment used open questions to extend thinking. A wooden heart placed in a jar recognised kindness, while a sensory-filled take-a-breath bag helped children regulate their emotions. Those concrete routines made social development part of the day.

Safeguarding was effective at that inspection. Staff understood signs of harm and reporting procedures, and continually assessed risks on outings and at forest-school sites. Close work with other professionals and settings supported children with special educational needs or disabilities and children learning English as an additional language.

The setting has capacity for 28 children and operates as sessional day care from the Undercroft at All Hallows' Church. Families need the provider's current information before treating the 2022 inspection routines as today's offer.

• Current attendance pattern. Ask which days, session lengths and minimum booking pattern now apply. This determines whether the sessional model fits work and family routines.
• Outdoor routine. Ask how often children currently visit the woods and what clothing or equipment families provide. The outdoor programme was central to the 2022 experience.
• Current charges and provisions. Request a written quotation covering funded hours, meals and non-food consumables so the full arrangement is clear.

This is best suited to families drawn to a small, sessional setting where outdoor investigation, stories and language shape learning. The June 2022 Outstanding judgement was backed by unusually vivid practice: mini-beast searches, woodland story play and thoughtful emotional-regulation routines. Its limitation is practical rather than educational in the available evidence. Families must establish whether the current session pattern fits the care they need.