Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Attwood Farm Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2023)
·Attwood Farm, Bodle Street Green, Hailsham, BN27 4RA · East Sussex
Number of places
34 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2023
Local authority
East Sussex

About this day nursery

Attwood Farm Nursery School, opened by HRH the Countess of Wessex in 2001, is set within a charmingly converted 16th-century barn on a sprawling 100-acre farm in Bodle Street Green, East Sussex. The nursery operates with a Montessori-inspired educational approach, providing a traditional yet dynamic learning environment for children from 1 to 5 years old.

The unique farm setting allows for immersive, hands-on learning experiences, where children can engage with animals, explore the natural surroundings, and participate in Forest School activities year-round. This enriching environment is designed to foster children's development and learning in a safe and stimulating manner.

Attwood Farm Nursery School has built a strong reputation over 25 years, focusing on creating a fun and educational experience that integrates with the farm's seasonal changes. The nursery works closely with the East Sussex Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and is registered with Ofsted.

They pride themselves on fresh, nutritious meals prepared by a qualified Cordon Bleu cook, ensuring children's well-being and a positive social experience during mealtimes. The school emphasises an interactive learning journey, with an online platform for parents to track their child's progress and contribute observations.

What it's like

Children enter the nursery enthusiastically and are happy, safe and secure. They understand and follow established routines and behave well, responding positively to the high expectations of staff. Children benefit from nourishing, home-cooked food and enjoy sociable mealtimes.

Montessori-inspired learningFarm-based activitiesForest SchoolCordon Bleu cook for mealsOnline learning journey

Pricing & funding

Fees are determined by age group, split into classes for ages one to two, two to three, and pre-school. Charges are based on hourly rates for non-funded hours, with government funding accepted for eligible children. Meals, snacks, and age-specific extra-curricular activities are charged as additional extras.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
  • Daily school lunch£3.75 / day
  • Breakfast£2.00 / day
  • Snack£0.75 / session
  • School activity (1-2 years)£1.00 / session
  • School activity (2-3 years)£2.50 / session

Good to know

  • Government funding is accepted for eligible children aged one to four.
  • Free core hours are from 08:30 to 16:30, subject to confirmed funding.
  • Non-funded or additional hours are charged at hourly nursery rates.
  • Optional breakfast, lunches, and snacks are charged separately.
  • Extracurricular activities are charged per session and vary by age group.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (with potential for extended hours based on demand). The school closes for 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 weeks at Easter, 3 weeks in the summer, and on bank holidays.

Food

Nutritious school lunches, breakfast, and snacks available, overseen by a qualified Cordon Bleu cook.

Waitlist

Spaces available for ages 3+ in Spring/Summer 2026. Spaces available for all age groups in September 2026.

Age range

1 to 5 years

Session types

Full-time sessions, Term-time sessions

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Attwood Farm Nursery

Last inspected 18 April 2023 · Jill Thewlis

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children enter the nursery enthusiastically and are happy, safe and secure. They understand and follow established routines and behave well, responding positively to the high expectations of staff. Children benefit from nourishing, home-cooked food and enjoy sociable mealtimes.

Inspector highlights

  • Children enter the nursery enthusiastically and are happy, safe and secure.
  • Parents are uniformly delighted with the setting, particularly the emphasis on outdoor play.
  • Children's communication and language skills are effectively developed.
  • Staff support children in learning how to care for others, such as bottle-feeding lambs and brushing donkeys.
  • Leaders are reflective about their practice and support staff in their training and development.

Areas to develop

  • 1focus the planning of activities more sharply on children's identified next steps in learning to support even better progress
  • 2support staff in understanding how to use questioning more consistently to support children's critical thinking skills.
Inspection #10263065 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

"Parents are uniformly delighted with the setting."

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

Outdoor space

Children's opportunities for physical development are wide ranging. Outdoors, they climb, run and make use of the ride-on toys confidently. They learn how to manage risk and have regular trips to the woods to explore the natural world and observe seasonal changes.

Inspection history

Date: September 2010

  • April 2023Good
  • April 2017Good
  • April 2015Good
  • September 2010Outstanding

Frequently asked about Attwood Farm Nursery

Nearby day nurseries in Hailsham

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Attwood Farm Nursery.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more