Opening hours
Open all year round, except two weeks over Christmas.
Brambles Cholderton
Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2025)
Number of places
40 places
Age range
1–3 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Wiltshire
About this day nursery
Brambles Outdoor Nursery Group is an award-winning, Ofsted-registered nursery group with five locations in the Wiltshire countryside. They are passionate about providing a unique outdoor learning environment where children can lead their own play and develop confidence and independence with the support of dedicated staff.
The day nursery draws inspiration from Forest School principles, Hygge, and a nature-based approach, encouraging children to explore and interact with the natural world. They prioritise children's well-being, with practitioners fostering emotional understanding, empathy, and kindness to help children regulate emotions, feel secure, and build resilience.
Brambles Cholderton, opened in Spring 2021, is situated next to the Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm. This setting features a pond teeming with wildlife, diverse mature trees for shelter and learning about the seasons, and operates largely off-grid, utilising collected water for handwashing and gardening.
It includes a solar-lit toilet shed and two yurts: one for open-ended play and another as a snug for quiet time or sleep, both equipped with log burners for cooler weather. The Cholderton location offers various activity zones, including a mud kitchen, reading area, creative space, bug mansion, and large construction area, always providing different provocations to stimulate children's exploration and play.
Our ethos
Brambles Cholderton champions a nature-based, outdoor learning environment inspired by Forest School principles and Hygge. They focus on child-led play, fostering confidence and independence while prioritising well-being, emotional understanding, and resilience. The nursery encourages exploration and interaction with the natural world, utilising its unique setting for diverse, stimulating activities.
What it's like
Children arrive prepared for all weathers and are warmly welcomed by staff who explore the environment with them. Children show high levels of confidence, settle into activities quickly, and keenly share their knowledge. Staff expertly engage children in meaningful conversations, helping to develop their communication and language skills.
Outdoor EnvironmentForest School EthosNature-based LearningOfsted Outstanding
Pricing & funding
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Request pricing →Key facts
Age range
9 months old to 4 years old
Term time / All Year
All Year
Registered with Ofsted
2021
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Brambles Cholderton
Last inspected 23 September 2025 · Rebecca Lihou
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 arrive prepared for all weathers and are warmly welcomed by staff who explore the environment with them. Children show high levels of confidence, settle into activities quickly, and keenly share their knowledge. Staff expertly engage children in meaningful conversations, helping to develop their communication and language skills.
Inspector highlights
- Children behave well and learn to regulate their bodies through strategies like reading books about feelings.
- Staff provide nutritious meals and snacks, teaching children to prepare their own vegetables and dips.
- Staff are excellent role models, guiding children to manage risks during play and teaching them boundaries and routines.
- Staff present information clearly, teaching children about the world around them and fostering a deep understanding of living things.
- Children develop a love for reading, recall well-known stories, and use their imagination to bring them to life in their play.
Areas to develop
- 1strengthen the delivery of the curriculum for older children so that they have sufficient challenges to make the progress they are capable of
- 2share information more consistently with parents to ensure that they have access to their children's 'small steps of progress' to support learning in the home environment
- 3sharpen the monitoring and evaluating of staff's practice to identify any inconsistencies to raise the quality of interactions with children.
Inspection #10418263 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents report that since the changes to the arrangements, they find it harder to support children with their learning at home.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
Outdoor space
Children arrive prepared for all weathers as they enter the outdoor setting, where staff help them explore the environment. The setting provides an outdoor-centred provision, including forest school areas where children search for bugs, notice birds, and use their knowledge of living things to make shelters.
Google Reviews of Brambles Cholderton
5.0
(12 Google reviews)
Z
7 months ago
We LOVE Brambles Cholderton! My little one is so happy and always has so many good things to tell me about his day. The staff are lovely, attentive and hands on! We couldn’t have picked anywhere better to nurture our little one through his early years!
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Anna Lillywhite
2 years ago
We love Brambles Cholderton! My Granddaughter absolutely loves this nursery she always comes home happy and has lots to say about her day. Every day is a different experience which is brilliant as she doesn’t get board. The staff are all amazing they have lots of time for both children and always have time for the parents/ grandparents too. I really feel as if my granddaughter is valued here and the staff seem to know her well. The food is fantastic she loves her food so she is very happy with what she gets. So if she’s happy every one is happy 😊
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Emma Tasker
6 months ago
I’m evangelical about Brambles - the staff, their approach, the setting. My son thrives under their care and I so lucky to be able to continue working knowing he’s so well looked after.
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Daisy Botha
a year ago
My daughter has been going here since she was just under two years old and she's always loved it. The staff are amazing, friendly and supportive. I love the focus on being child led and being outdoors in nature all day. I wouldn't hesitate sending my second child here when the time comes.
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Clare Partridge
4 years ago
Amazing communication, professionalism and care. My 2 year old attends Brambles at Cholderton and LOVES it. Since starting her confidence has grown so much and she becoming more and more independent. All staff are super friendly and genuinely care for my child 😊
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Brambles Cholderton. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: April 2023
- September 2025Good
- April 2023Good
Frequently asked about Brambles Cholderton
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