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Little Barn Owls Nursery, Brookfield

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Mar 2025)
·
4.5(8 parent reviews) ·Brookfield Day Nursery, London Road, CRAWLEY, RH10 9TR · West Sussex
Number of places
65 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
West Sussex

About this day nursery

Little Barn Owls Nursery, Brookfield, is part of an award-winning group of forest and farm school nurseries. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, the nursery focuses on nurturing confident, caring, and curious children.

They have received accolades such as The Nursery World Award for Enabling Environments 2024, UK Nursery Group of the Year 2020, and UK Nursery of the Year 2015, recognising their innovative and creative approach to Early Years Education. The nursery group operates across various locations including Horsham, Crawley, and Midhurst.

They emphasise parental involvement, encouraging families to participate in nursery life through events, workshops, and parent-nursery association activities. The admissions process is non-discriminatory, accepting children regardless of gender, race, cultural background, religion, ability, health, or social class.

They offer places on a first-come, first-served basis, with an annual admissions period from September to January, though children may start outside this window with a retainer fee. Little Barn Owls is dedicated to providing an enriching environment that fosters children's holistic development, drawing on their expertise in outdoor learning and mental health provision, for which they have also been recently recognised.

Our ethos

Nurturing confident, caring and curious children is our passion and our promise. Our innovative and creative approach to Early Years Education is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.

What it's like

Staff and leaders create an exceedingly calm and welcoming environment, which captivates children's attention, inspiring them to be motivated learners. They quickly engross themselves in chosen activities, and staff skilfully build on their interests to further develop knowledge and understanding of themselves and others. Leaders implement a highly ambitious curriculum that supports children to confidently talk about their feelings, promoting their well-being and future positive mental health.

Forest SchoolFarm SchoolReggio Emilia approachAward-winningOutdoor learning

Pricing & funding

Charges consist of a one-off registration fee and a refundable deposit to secure a place. If a child starts outside the standard admissions period, a monthly retainer fee is charged to reserve the space.

Good to know

  • Registration fee and deposit must be paid via BACS within 72 hours of space confirmation.
  • A retainer fee of 10% to 20% of the first month's invoice applies monthly for delayed starts.

Key facts

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Barn Owls Nursery, Brookfield

Last inspected 10 March 2025

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

What it's like to attend

Staff and leaders create an exceedingly calm and welcoming environment, which captivates children's attention, inspiring them to be motivated learners. They quickly engross themselves in chosen activities, and staff skilfully build on their interests to further develop knowledge and understanding of themselves and others. Leaders implement a highly ambitious curriculum that supports children to confidently talk about their feelings, promoting their well-being and future positive mental health.

Inspector highlights

  • The leadership team is exceptionally strong, designing a highly effective curriculum and empowering children through choices to promote their all-round development.
  • Staff have extensive knowledge of children and their families, gathering relevant information to provide the highest level of care and teaching, and acting swiftly to ensure children access support.
  • Staff are excellent role models for children, demonstrating respect and kindness, using positive language, and asking children's permission for daily tasks to promote positive, consensual interactions.
  • The arrangements to build on children's independence are exemplary and securely embedded within the curriculum across all age groups.
  • Children benefit from exceptional interactions, with staff ensuring all children are included in group activities and engaging them in back-and-forth conversations to develop communication skills.
Inspection #10393559 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

All parents appreciate the outstanding care and teaching that leaders and staff provide for their children.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff have extensive knowledge of children and their families. They ensure that they gather all relevant information from parents and other agencies so that they can provide the highest level of care and teaching for all children. Staff act swiftly when they have concerns to ensure that children access the support they need.

Outdoor space

The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning.

Parent Reviews of Little Barn Owls Nursery, Brookfield

4.5
(8)
Rob Hernandez
a year ago

Our Daughter has been at Brookfield since it transitioned to a Little Barn Owls setting. It is the third Nursery she has been to after the previous two didn't work out. We couldn't be happier. The staff are amazing, caring and make a point of getting to know our Daughter. Constant and consistant observations and updates as well as seeing how happy she is to go says it all for us. It is hands down the best Nursery in the Crawley/Gatwick area! Don't look anywhere else!

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Martha Romero
7 years ago

My child has been in this nursery for more than two years. This wasn’t the first nursery he attended, he settled very well here and he has made incredible progress in his social development. The staff really cares and my child loves going to the nursery every day, he has learnt a lot too. I considered other nurseries but Brookfield is the most affordable in the Gatwick area, specially if you are a working parent.

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Sarah De Sousa
2 years ago

I've had two children go through this nursery and a third due to start this September. Many years ago my now 19 year old son attended this nursery, he is quite severely autistic and the nursery helped him to flourish and coped so well with his behaviours after his previous nursery placement let him down. They embraced him with a home from home environment and a friendly family feeling environment. My four year old has.just had his nursery graduation party and has come on leaps and bounds and is such a happy little boy who's so excited to go to nursery you barely even get a goodbye. There was no question where I'd be sending my third son. So may nurseries have a high staff turn over but not this one. Many staff have been there since my eldest was there! Testimony to the nurturing environment that both staff and children receive. They are sensational whether your children have additional needs or not. The rooms are spacious and there are great toys. They do topic work rather than just being left to roam like wild animals. They do forest schools and educate children on natureso well, including bug hunts! Everything is very play based by my gosh do they learn! Love, love, love! Don't even bother looking elsewhere

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Cassie Franks
7 years ago

After 3 years at Brookfield, I can honestly say my child has flourished here. The staff encourage learning and personal growth through creative methods and discovery. The nursery provides a very warm, happy environment, with a family feel. Children's individual needs are clearly identified throughout their time at Brookfield and key workers form great bonds not only with the children but families too. Highly recommended.

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parent
5 years ago

I can’t praise the team at Brookfield highly enough. While my children have attended Brookfield, they have really come along socially and the staff have really encouraged their development. The team really get to know the children and care are about them, and the nursery has a real homely feel. I would thoroughly recommend Brookfield to anyone looking for a nursery for their child.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Little Barn Owls Nursery, Brookfield. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: July 2011

  • March 2025Outstanding
  • November 2021Outstanding
  • March 2017Good
  • May 2015Good
  • July 2011Good

Frequently asked about Little Barn Owls Nursery, Brookfield

About the setting

Brookfield Day Nursery registered in 2000 and operates in Crawley, West Sussex. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm. It employs 25 staff, 16 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education.

URN
113545
Registered person
Brookfield Day Nursery Ltd
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Outstanding

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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