Bee in the Woods Kindergarten Stanmer Park

About this early years setting

Bee in the Woods Kindergarten offers an exceptional outdoor learning environment across its two Brighton locations, Stanmer Park and Foredown Woods. The nursery is deeply committed to the belief that early childhood development is profoundly shaped by consistent engagement with nature and a strong sense of community.

Drawing inspiration from diverse educational philosophies such as Froebel, Reggio Emilia, Te Whakiri, and Scandinavian Forest Schools, Bee in the Woods provides a play-based, experiential curriculum that encourages children to explore their innate curiosity and develop a deep understanding of the natural world. The approach fosters resilience, independence, emotional intelligence, and strong communication skills through activities like climbing, problem-solving, and collaborative projects.

Children are not just visitors to nature; they are immersed in it, learning practical skills like gardening and campfire cooking while also developing early numeracy and literacy. This unique setting, recognised with an Ofsted Outstanding rating, aims to build a nurturing and supportive community that prioritises the wellbeing of its staff, families, and children, fostering deep connections to each other and the environment.

Our ethos

We believe that the outdoors is the best place for children to learn. The natural world is a magical learning environment that enables children to be natural born scientists. Their instinct to investigate, explore and to make sense of their world is nurtured by the changing seasons and an unlimited supply of open-ended natural resources. We are influenced by the philosophies of Froebel, Reggio Emilia, Te Whakiri and Scandinavian Forest Schools to harness the natural environment, community and the power of play. We co-construct our curriculum on a much bigger, wilder, more democratic and more adventurous scale.We believe in listening to children and giving them the time and freedom they need and deserve to explore and express themselves. We trust in children's sense of curiosity and capability to construct their own knowledge and contribute to their community.We aim to create a nurturing, safe and caring community which fosters a strong sense of belonging and self worth.Wellbeing is vital to our setting and through taking care of our staff, our families and our children's wellbeing, we aim to build a resilient and supportive community with deep connections to each other and to the natural world.

What it's like

Children thrive in this exceptional woodland setting, captivated by rich experiences and nurtured by staff who consider their unique characteristics. Children's attitudes to learning are consistently positive, showing maturity and respect for their environment and each other.