The Woodyard Nursery, Forest School

A yurt warmed by a log fire, paths through woodland and a fire circle give The Woodyard Nursery, Forest School its character. Outdoor play is the main attraction here: children can explore woods, ponds and fields, with indoor shelter close by. This is a choice for families who want the natural world to shape the nursery day.

The nursery takes children aged 3 to 4 and has 16 places in total. It shares its Church Road site in Ashburnham with The Farmyard Nursery, which supplies hot lunches and hosts breakfast and tea sessions. The two settings also share resources and spend time together on walks and activities.

At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found safeguarding effective. That judgement belongs to that visit. The current outdoor offer has plenty of concrete substance: a mud kitchen, sandpit and climbing frame sit alongside space for longer explorations.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the foundation for learning and care, with play, conversation and practical exploration supporting children's development. Forest School principles add an outdoor approach to that foundation here, using the grounds and natural materials as part of children's learning.

In September 2022, children searched for animal habitats in the woodland, then made their own versions with clay and natural materials. This connected observation with making: children could examine something real before deciding how to recreate it. Stories and songs also ran through the day, with photographs and props helping staff introduce vocabulary and start conversations.

Reading had an outdoor life too. In September 2022, a basket and blanket supplied props for storytelling, and children retold familiar tales. These were opportunities to practise language through participation rather than simply listen. Discussion about what seeds need to grow connected words with things children could investigate.

Seasonal experiences gave learning a longer timescale. In September 2022, the curriculum included an annual visit to an owl's nest to count eggs, alongside watching crops being harvested by a combine harvester. Growth and change were subjects children could follow in their surroundings, rather than encounter only in pictures.

Outdoor and Community Life

The fire circle has logs for seating, and snacks are sometimes prepared over the fire. Elsewhere, decking, tyres and a slide offer different surfaces and physical challenges. Paths between trees and through long grass give children places to explore under practitioner supervision; the yurt provides another place to play when children want shelter.

Warm, waterproof clothing is essential because children often choose to remain outdoors throughout the day. That practical requirement is part of the appeal and part of the commitment for families. This setting makes outdoor exploration an everyday option, rather than an occasional change of scene.

In September 2022, children were supported to reach the slide by climbing tree roots. The activity gave them a physical problem to solve while learning to judge risk. Shared effort mattered too: two children worked together to push a heavy wheelbarrow uphill.

Community contact extended beyond the woodland. In September 2022, neighbours had joined children for a fire-circle gathering and a meal the children helped prepare, cooked on the yurt's wood burner. Families from other countries also had opportunities to share food and music, bringing experiences from home into nursery life.

Tapestry, the online learning journal, carries photographs, videos and observations for parents to view. Families can contribute posts from home as well, making communication a two-way exchange. For parents getting used to their child spending time away from them, this offers a concrete way to follow nursery experiences.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found close partnerships with parents, supported by staff getting to know families individually and holding regular parents' evenings where adults and children learned together. Those meetings added shared experiences to the usual exchange of information.

The current management structure includes a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and a Designated Safeguarding Lead. The staff team includes practitioners with Forest School training, and paediatric and Forest School first-aid certificates. These are identifiable roles and training relevant to the setting's outdoor activities.

Food also connects the two nurseries. A chef prepares a home-cooked hot lunch in The Farmyard Nursery's kitchen, which is brought to The Woodyard for children to eat. In September 2022, children also planted, harvested and cooked produce, giving food discussions a practical starting point.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8.15am to 4.15pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates for 50 weeks each year, closing for a week in August and another at Christmas. Day attendance runs from 8.15am to 4.15pm.

Breakfast and tea sessions take place at The Farmyard Nursery on the same site. Breakfast begins at 7.30am, while tea finishes at 6pm. This gives families a choice between the Woodyard day itself and attendance with additional care at the neighbouring setting.

Getting There

The address is Church Road, Ashburnham, Battle, TN33 9NU, on the same site as The Farmyard Nursery. Directions from both Battle and Hailsham use the A271, with the Ashburnham turning leading towards the site.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01424 893366. Tours can also be booked through the nursery's contact route.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered through a stretched arrangement: the 15-hour entitlement becomes 11 hours each week across the year, while the 30-hour entitlement becomes 24 hours for eligible children. Hours beyond a child's funded entitlement are charged privately, so the funded allocation and the attendance pattern need to be considered together.

For funded attendance, meals and non-food consumables are charged separately through a non-mandatory additional fee. That fee covers breakfast, snacks and lunch with pudding, plus wipes and sun cream; it also covers extra learning resources. The additional fees are reviewed each term, and current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The funding and fees information explains the structure.

• An outdoor day. Waterproofs and warm clothing are essential, and the grounds include ponds, woodland and a fire circle. On a tour, discuss how supervision works across these areas and how children use the yurt during difficult weather.
• Care across two settings. Breakfast and tea are held at The Farmyard Nursery, while the Woodyard day runs between 8.15am and 4.15pm. Ask how the handover between the settings fits your child's routine.
• Stretched funding and extras. Funded hours are spread across the year, and the non-mandatory additional fee covers food, consumables and extra resources. Request a written quotation matching your intended attendance and discuss the arrangements if you choose not to pay that fee.

The Woodyard suits families seeking outdoor-led care for preschool children, whether they want the Woodyard day or breakfast and tea sessions at The Farmyard Nursery as well. Its appeal lies in specific opportunities: woodland paths, a fire circle and sheltered play in the yurt. The September 2022 Outstanding judgement adds a dated assessment of quality. For families comfortable with the clothing demands and the arrangements across two settings, the nursery offers a clear and recognisable approach.