Branching Out

About this day nursery

Branching Out, nestled in the picturesque village of Sabden within the Ribble Valley, offers a nurturing "home-from-home" environment where children are encouraged to explore, grow, and thrive. The nursery embraces a philosophy of wonder and discovery, fostering meaningful connections with the natural world through hands-on exploration and creative play.

Inspired by the Forest School ethos, the setting utilises its large garden spaces as an extension of the classroom, promoting curiosity, confidence, and resilience in children as they engage with nature throughout the seasons. Creativity is central to their approach, integrating art, music, storytelling, and imaginative play into daily learning.

The nursery categorises its developmental stages as "Roots" for under-twos, focusing on secure attachments, "Branches" for two-year-olds and over, encouraging exploration, and "Blossoms" for three-year-olds and up, supporting independence. This framework underscores their commitment to helping children develop strong foundations, explore new horizons, and ultimately flourish in their unique ways.

Branching Out actively integrates with the local Sabden community, with children regularly visiting village shops and the local park, fostering a sense of belonging and connection to their surroundings. Operating from two community venues, they provide spacious indoor and outdoor areas, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

Our ethos

At Branching Out, our ethos underpins everything we do. Guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and inspired by Forest School principles, we believe children learn best through play, exploration, and real-life experiences. Our approach is child-led, inclusive, and responsive, ensuring each child is supported as a unique learner with their own interests, strengths, and needs. The outdoors is an integral part of our daily practice, providing rich opportunities for sensory play, creativity, problem-solving, and supported risk-taking. Through strong relationships, a consistent key person approach, and a nurturing environment, we place children’s emotional wellbeing, confidence, and sense of belonging at the centre of their learning journey. By combining high-quality early years practice with nature-based learning and meaningful community connections, we support children to develop into confident, resilient, and curious learners, ready to flourish as they grow.

What it's like

Children are confident, active and happy in this caring and nurturing nursery. They thrive on learning new skills and delight in opportunities to be creative, which helps develop fine motor skills. Nursery staff provide extra support for children to socialise, helping them to develop close bonds with staff and enabling them to express their emotions.