Gilderdale Nursery

About this day nursery

Gilderdale Nursery and Forest School, located on a working farm in Alston, Cumbria, offers a unique and inclusive early years experience within a converted barn setting. The nursery prioritises creating a comfortable and loving atmosphere, ensuring all children feel at home.

With ample natural light and warm interiors, the barn provides a welcoming space for exploration, investigation, and relaxation. The facility includes two distinct areas: a dedicated baby room for infants from six months old, featuring its own cosy sleep space and private outdoor area, and a larger barn space for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Children typically transition to the main barn around two years old, gaining free-flow access to extensive outdoor spaces. This includes private woodlands and opportunities to explore the surrounding farmland.

The curriculum heavily emphasises outdoor learning, with pre-school children spending most of their days engaging in activities like gardening, caring for animals, and cooking over a fire. They also enjoy a woodwork shed, art zone, mud kitchen, and regular forest school sessions.

On inclement weather days, a yurt provides a warm alternative. The nursery encourages risk-taking and resilience, fostering independence and social skills through hands-on experiences.

The team is dedicated to an in-the-moment approach, promoting imaginative play and life skills development, and ensuring an inclusive environment where every child can flourish.

Our ethos

Gilderdale Nursery and Forest School's approach is rooted in outdoor learning and hands-on experiences, emphasising risk-taking, resilience, independence, and life skills. They foster an 'in-the-moment' pedagogical approach, encouraging imaginative play and providing unique opportunities such as animal care, gardening, woodwork, and cooking over a fire within a Forest School setting.

What it's like

Children are happy in this welcoming and thoughtfully resourced nursery which promotes their learning and development, both indoors and outdoors. They are welcomed by enthusiastic and nurturing staff and engage in a wide range of stimulating activities that spark their curiosity and interest. Children are confident and capable learners who are well prepared for their next stage of learning and eventual move on to school.

Pricing & funding