Great and Small Forest School

About this day nursery

Great and Small Forest Education offers two distinct childcare settings in the Accrington area: Great and Small Forest School and Great and Small Kindergarten, both highly rated by Ofsted. The Forest School provides an outdoor learning experience in a woodland setting, while the Kindergarten offers a more traditional day care environment, located in Clayton le Moors.

Founded in 2015 by Victoria Cocken, a qualified primary teacher and Level 3 Forest School Practitioner, the organisation emphasises child-led play and exploration, encouraging confidence building and a love for the natural world. Their educational approach integrates learning opportunities across various subjects within the Forest School framework, such as mathematics through den building or science through mud play.

They focus on using natural and recycled resources to promote sustainability and respect for the environment. The settings foster strong relationships with parents and carers to ensure children receive the best start.

They also host holiday clubs and parent and child groups, providing a diverse range of services to the community.

Our ethos

We believe that the best learning and development takes place when children have the freedom to lead their own play and investigation, and follow their own interests, whilst also being provided with opportunities to explore and learn more about their world, local community, global celebrations and cultures and, importantly, themselves and others. At Great and Small, children are nurtured to develop a love and respect for our beautiful world, themselves, and others. Our aim to develop strong, open relationships and communication with all of our parents and carers to ensure that we all work together to ensure the very best start for our precious children.

What it's like

The provider puts children at the centre of everything they do at this exceptional outdoor setting. All staff have a superb understanding of what the provider wants children to learn. The ambitious and rich curriculum sets clear learning intentions for what they want children to achieve.

Pricing & funding

Fees vary by location, age band, and session length, with options for full days, half days, and hourly blocks. Standard Clitheroe fees include meals, snacks, and woodland care. Funded places at both Clitheroe and Clayton le Moors locations require an additional daily payment for campfire lunches and woodland care.