--- title: "Gilderdale Nursery — Rated Good by Ofsted | Nursery Advice" description: "Gilderdale Nursery in Alston — Rated Good by Ofsted. See opening hours, fees, photos, parent reviews and contact details on Nursery Advice." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. Ofsted ratings, fees, opening hours, parent reviews and inspection history — all in one place.", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. 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Children spend time exploring fields, woods and streams, with activities that include den building, mud play and learning about local wildlife and natural materials." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the opening hours at Gilderdale Nursery?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Gilderdale Nursery is open Monday to Friday throughout the year. Sessions run from 8am to 6pm, and the setting operates on an all-year basis rather than term time only." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does Gilderdale Nursery support children with SEND?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Staff work with speech and language therapists to learn strategies and plan activities that support communication. The team also uses emotion coaching to help children manage feelings, and works with wider professionals so children with special educational needs and disabilities make strong progress." } } ] } ] } ] --- [![Nursery Advice](/__l5e/assets-v1/1c5557d3-f3fd-42f8-935a-3f2d2c3ac7e7/nursery-advice.webp "Nursery Advice")](/ "Nursery Advice") [Find Nurseries](/search)[Parent Hub](/parent-hub)[Compare](/compare)[About Us](/about-us)[For Nurseries](/for-nurseries) [Claim Your Nursery](/claim) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Nurseries](/nurseries) 3. [North West](/search?region=North+West) 4. Gilderdale Nursery # Gilderdale Nursery Compare Contact Nursery Ofsted: Good (Apr 2023) · 5.0 (1 parent reviews) · Wanwood Hill, Alston, CA9 3BE · Westmorland and Furness Number of places 32 places Age range 1–4 yrs Last inspected Apr 2023 Local authority Westmorland and Furness About - About - Pricing - Ofsted - Inclusion - Reviews - FAQ - [About](#about) - [Pricing](#pricing) - [Ofsted](#ofsted) - [Inclusion](#inclusion) - [Reviews](#reviews) - [FAQ](#faq) Email 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. Forest School Farm-based Outdoor Learning Converted Barn Setting ## 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 →](https://www.gilderdalenursery.com/contact) ### Official Ofsted Report Independent inspection of Gilderdale Nursery Inspection date Apr 2023 Inspection no. 10281089 Safeguarding arrangements are effective [Download full report (PDF)](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50217431)[View on Ofsted.gov.uk](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2624764) Visit or enquire ### Book a show-around Most settings reply within 48 hours. Schedule a VisitContact NurseryJoin Waitlist Get in touch ### Contact Reveal phone number [ Visit website ](https://www.gilderdalenursery.com/) Wanwood Hill, Alston, CA9 3BE [© Mapbox](https://www.mapbox.com/about/maps) [© OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright/) [Improve this map](https://apps.mapbox.com/feedback/?owner=bettersearch&id=cmr0xkm3n001m01shcu7igkjr&access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiYmV0dGVyc2VhcmNoIiwiYSI6ImNtcjB4NzVvNDA0ZTkycHF5Z3g3aWNtZWcifQ.h8Ni35tijJSAoESKsGArhg#/-2.4628/54.82905/14) [](https://www.mapbox.com/) ## Explore day nurseries near Alston - [Day nurseries in Alston](/search?q=Alston) - [Day nurseries in North West](/search?q=North+West) Is this your nursery? Claim this listing to add photos, pricing, and respond to enquiries. [Claim this listing](/claim?nursery=gilderdale-nursery-ca9-3be-2624764) ## Key facts Opening hours Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions run from 8am until 6pm Age range 6 months onwards Term time / All Year All Year Established 2021 Ofsted Inspection ## Ofsted rating for Gilderdale Nursery Last inspected 12 April 2023 Safeguarding effective 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 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. Inspector highlights - Children are happy in this welcoming and thoughtfully resourced nursery. - Staff are sensitive to the emotional needs of children and know them well. - Children engage in a wide range of stimulating activities and resources that spark their curiosity and interest. - Staff use observations and assessment effectively to identify what children already know, can do and enjoy. - Children have a good understanding of healthy eating and where food comes from. Areas to develop - 1 work even more closely in partnership with parents to support children's learning at home - 2 support staff to refine their practice during group activities, so that all children's speech, language and communication development is raised to the highest level. Inspection #10281089 · Source: Ofsted [View full Ofsted report](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50217431) ## What parents say Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection > their children enjoy attending and "the staff are wonderful" Inclusion & environment ## How they support every child SEND provision Staff work effectively with wider professionals and access specific training to support children's progression. For example, staff work closely with speech and language therapists to learn strategies and plan activities for children. They have undertaken emotion coaching to support children who struggle to regulate their emotions. This ensures that children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points. Outdoor space Children are welcomed into a thoughtfully resourced nursery that promotes their learning, both indoors and outdoors. They are encouraged to put on wetsuits before going outside and pull off socks to paddle in the water tray. ## Parent Reviews of Gilderdale Nursery 5.0 (1) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocL0AT0qxSyVp69kc3rJNlZ_meMDVK55z_NJbx_pbwCdCWJB4g=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Ilona Best 4 years ago [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURXbG9yaTVnRRAB!2m1!1s0x487dad10fbf99b63:0x1416c0a0cdf5c55) Reviews from Google for Gilderdale Nursery. [See all on Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=90472257945558101&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) Inspection history Most recent inspection 12 April 2023 Good Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published. [View full Ofsted report](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50217431) ## Frequently asked about Gilderdale Nursery ### What curriculum approach does Gilderdale Nursery use? ### What are the opening hours at Gilderdale Nursery? ### How does Gilderdale Nursery support children with SEND? ## Nearby day nurseries in Alston Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Gilderdale Nursery. - [ Ofsted: Good 9.7 mi ### Allendale Pre-School Hexham · NE47 9PT ](/nursery/allendale-pre-school-ne47-9pt-ey498781) - [ Ofsted: Good 9.9 mi ### Haltwhistle Little Star Haltwhistle · NE49 9DP ](/nursery/haltwhistle-little-star-ne49-9dp-ey278887) - [ Ofsted: Outstanding 10.7 mi ### Henshaw Nursery Hexham · NE47 7EP ](/nursery/henshaw-nursery-ne47-7ep-ey425242) - [ Ofsted: Outstanding 12.4 mi ### Lambkins Day Nursery & Pre-School Centre Penrith · CA10 1LW ](/nursery/lambkins-day-nursery-pre-school-centre-ca10-1lw-ey453802) - [ Ofsted: Good 13.1 mi ### Little Badgers Child Care Haydon Bridge · NE47 6BN ](/nursery/little-badgers-child-care-ne47-6bn-2830561) - [ Ofsted: Good 15.3 mi ### Wetheral Playschool Wetheral · CA4 8HE ](/nursery/wetheral-playschool-ca4-8he-ey552715) [See all nurseries in Alston →](/search?q=Alston) ### Are you the owner of this nursery? 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