Little Wild Nursery

Barnes is now home to the first Ofsted registered Forest School nursery in the borough. Wild Education opened the Little Wild Nursery in September 2016 and it was an immediate success, with the children loving the Forest School ethos of education in the beautiful woodland at Barn Elms Sports Trust grounds. With only 16 children in the group, high adult:child ratios, highly qualified and passionate staff, and a vast space in which to explore, learn and play, the Little Wild Nursery is a fantastic environment for pre-school children.

Children today have very scheduled lives, spend more time in classrooms or in front of screens, and have less time and freedom to play than ever before. Forest School allows children space and time to play, reconnect with nature and their environment, learn to take risks, and have their own adventures.

“Molly rushes out of Little Wild Nursery with rosy cheeks and dirty hands. She has normally made something fantastic from the nature around her and she is full of stories of campfires and woodland adventures. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to send Molly here. She is always so excited about going, whatever the weather!!” Charlie, Mother of Molly.

Nursery manager Sally Taylor, along with Ellie Wrigglesworth and Katherine Cowpe, are all trained teachers and Forest School Leaders who believe passionately about the benefits of children learning outside. Research shows that children generally learn more effectively in the outdoors, gain in confidence and self-esteem, are more balanced, more able to concentrate, show greater consideration than others, greater social capability and better coordination.

Through their ‘wild’ curriculum the Little Wild Nursery covers the same Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum as a traditional nursery but in a natural, fun and less stressful environment with a wealth of opportunities to suit all learning styles. From counting and weighing conkers to learning about how to keep safe around a fire; from using ropes to make spiders webs to explorer walks to spot the changes of the season; from swinging in the hammock to balancing across a log…“there isn’t anything in the curriculum we can’t cover in the outdoors and with all the benefits that come with learning in a natural environment” says Wild Education founder Ellie.

Within the founding group, families not only came from the local Barnes area but even travelled from Kensington, Petersham, Teddington and Putney for their children to enjoy this very special nursery.

If you are interested in your child joining the Little Wild Nursery, you can email info@wildeducation.co.uk for an application form. The nursery is open five mornings a week during term-time, and takes pre-school children from the age of two. The Little Wild Nursery can be found in the woods of the Barn Elms Sports Trust grounds, Queen Elizabeth Walk, London SW13 9SA.

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