--- title: "Great and Small Forest School — Rated Outstanding by Ofsted" description: "Great and Small Forest School, a nursery in Accrington — Rated Outstanding by Ofsted. See opening hours, fees, photos 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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See opening hours, fees, photos and contact details on Nursery Advice.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007#nursery" }, "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007#breadcrumb" }, "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "h1", "[data-speakable]" ] } }, { "@type": "ChildCare", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007#nursery", "name": "Great and Small Forest School", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB", "streetAddress": "Cottams Farm", "addressLocality": "Whalley Road", "postalCode": "BB5 5SB" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007#webpage" }, "telephone": "01254 872608", "email": "hello@greatandsmalleducation.co.uk", "sameAs": [ "https://greatandsmalleducation.co.uk/" ], "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 53.784025, "longitude": -2.382069 }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "Accrington" } ], "audience": { "@type": "PeopleAudience", "suggestedMinAge": 3, "suggestedMaxAge": 5 }, "award": "Ofsted: Outstanding", "aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": 5, "reviewCount": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "review": [ { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laura Gray" }, "reviewBody": "I undertook my Forest School Practitioner Training at Great & Small and I learned a great deal and Vicky encouraged a passion I already had to enable me to take it into my own career. Great and Small is a fabulous setting to learn for all ages. The passion, enthusiasm and knowledge of Vicky and her staff is infectious. I would recommend Great and Small to anyone who wants to experience Forest School or being in the great outdoors. Go check them out!", "datePublished": "2021-12-08T18:28:12.878145Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Beata Miezio" }, "reviewBody": "Super", "datePublished": "2021-12-09T14:01:48.176361Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jennifer Mallaby-Corran" }, "datePublished": "2021-12-09T16:56:15.650529Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lauren Manley" }, "datePublished": "2024-07-24T11:40:03.605590Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rosie Strachan" }, "datePublished": "2024-05-03T22:47:03.278946Z", "inLanguage": "en" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Nurseries", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nurseries" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "North West", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?region=North%20West" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Great and Small Forest School", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What curriculum approach does Great and Small Forest School use?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Great and Small Forest School follows a Forest School approach. Learning is led through outdoor exploration, hands-on investigation, and child-led play, with regular opportunities to build confidence, independence, and problem-solving through woodland activities." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is known about the staff team at Great and Small Forest School?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The owner and founder, Victoria, is described as a qualified primary teacher. The setting also places strong emphasis on staff well-being, and staff work across a language-rich environment with careful supervision of children’s activities." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Great and Small Forest School have an Ofsted rating?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The current Ofsted overall grade is Outstanding, awarded on 18/09/2024." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How can Great and Small Forest School be contacted?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Telephone: 01254 872608. Email: hello@greatandsmalleducation.co.uk. Website: https://greatandsmalleducation.co.uk/" } } ] } ] } ] --- [![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. Great and Small Forest School # Great and Small Forest School Compare Contact Nursery Ofsted: Outstanding (Sept 2024) · 5.0 (5 parent reviews) · Cottams Farm, Whalley Road, Accrington, BB5 5SB · Lancashire Number of places 14 places Age range 3–5 yrs Last inspected Sept 2024 Local authority Lancashire 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 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. Forest School Outdoor Learning Ofsted Outstanding Child-led Play ## 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. Funding accepted Tax-Free Childcare 15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs) 30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs) 15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds Good to know - Privately paying parents are not charged for up to two weeks of holiday, provided four weeks' notice is given. - Standard fees at Clitheroe include meals, snacks, and the woodland care fund. - Funded places at Clitheroe incur an extra woodland care and campfire lunch charge of £10 per day or £5 per half day. - Funded places at Clayton le Moors incur an extra woodland care and campfire lunch charge of £12 per day. ### Official Ofsted Report Independent inspection of Great and Small Forest School Inspection date Sept 2024 Inspection no. 10350861 Lead inspector Kelly Little Safeguarding arrangements are effective [Download full report (PDF)](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50259290)[View on Ofsted.gov.uk](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY554007) 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 Contact Nursery [ Visit website ](https://greatandsmalleducation.co.uk/) Cottams Farm, Whalley Road, Accrington, BB5 5SB [© 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#/-2.38207/53.78402/14) [](https://www.mapbox.com/) ## Explore day nurseries near Accrington - [Day nurseries in Accrington](/search?q=Accrington) - [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=great-and-small-forest-school-bb5-5sb-ey554007) ## Key facts Opening hours Open 39 weeks a year for Clitheroe Forest School, closed two weeks over Christmas, bank holidays and one week end of August. Clayton le Moors locations are open 38 weeks a year (term-time). Term time / All Year Term Time Established 2017 Ofsted Inspection ## Ofsted rating for Great and Small Forest School Last inspected 18 September 2024 · Kelly Little 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 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. Inspector highlights - Children are immersed in a language-rich environment. - Opportunities for physical play are immense across the spacious site. - Staff minimise hazards at the site effectively. - Partnerships with parents are superb. - Staff's well-being is extremely important to the provider. Inspection #10350861 · Source: Ofsted [View full Ofsted report](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50259290) ## What parents say Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection > Parents comment that the setting is an extension to their family and are safe in the knowledge their children are learning and cared for in such a unique environment. Inclusion & environment ## How they support every child SEND provision All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make superb progress from their starting points. Outdoor space Opportunities for physical play are immense across the spacious site. Children show high levels of stamina and strength as they run, climb and balance. ## Parent Reviews of Great and Small Forest School 5.0 (5) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjWVCpzD3TiGffivXK-rPisjO76DaVFP8g--ULvMU_aF7DVJJLlk=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Laura Gray 4 years ago I undertook my Forest School Practitioner Training at Great & Small and I learned a great deal and Vicky encouraged a passion I already had to enable me to take it into my own career. Great and Small is a fabulous setting to learn for all ages. The passion, enthusiasm and knowledge of Vicky and her staff is infectious. I would recommend Great and Small to anyone who wants to experience Forest School or being in the great outdoors. Go check them out! [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURHMDdXdEtBEAE!2m1!1s0x487b9908ee4a5e55:0xd7bb0168ec656d4f) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocLvhqV_Qac8aDGH5O5csvZ4slMwQXdO7Hb3tKtogLd5g2ua4w=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Beata Miezio 4 years ago Super [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURHeTRyMlZREAE!2m1!1s0x487b9908ee4a5e55:0xd7bb0168ec656d4f) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocL5RY6NgF9GFfD2h3KFm8PH6yNrOkrLZiTrUMdKxHPtVpEUZg=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Jennifer Mallaby-Corran 4 years ago [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURHcThETy1RRRAB!2m1!1s0x487b9908ee4a5e55:0xd7bb0168ec656d4f) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocLb6gfC2jqBbu9-L9oR-_vpz3nFmhH-tyR1LOia18UMVsKyxg=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Lauren Manley a year ago [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNiblBUVkd3EAE!2m1!1s0x487b9908ee4a5e55:0xd7bb0168ec656d4f) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocJmFkRZvDEcbLxFBhfVkR40VHunLP5PKGX9xRG0rl_pWPdNhg=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Rosie Strachan 2 years ago [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURqZ1pyaW5RRRAB!2m1!1s0x487b9908ee4a5e55:0xd7bb0168ec656d4f) Reviews from Google for Great and Small Forest School. [See all on Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=15545020088953695567&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) Inspection history Date: September 2018 - September 2024 Outstanding - September 2018 Outstanding ## Frequently asked about Great and Small Forest School ### What curriculum approach does Great and Small Forest School use? ### What is known about the staff team at Great and Small Forest School? ### Does Great and Small Forest School have an Ofsted rating? ### How can Great and Small Forest School be contacted? ## Nearby day nurseries in Accrington Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Great and Small Forest School. - [ Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 mi ### Sparthfield Happy Day Nursery Accrington · BB5 5RP 2.5(11 reviews) ](/nursery/sparthfield-happy-day-nursery-bb5-5rp-ey339312) - [ Ofsted: Good 0.5 mi ### Little Sparks Accrington · BB5 5ST 5.0(7 reviews) ](/nursery/little-sparks-ltd-bb5-5st-ey389477) - [ Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 mi ### Great And Small Kindergarten Clayton le Moors · BB5 5PN 5.0(6 reviews) ](/nursery/great-and-small-kindergarten-bb5-5pn-ey562421) - [ Ofsted: Good 0.7 mi ### Bambinos Boutique Daycare Accrington · BB5 5NS ](/nursery/bambinos-boutique-daycare-ltd-bb5-5ns-2655400) - [ Ofsted: Good 0.7 mi ### Our Lady & St Huberts Playgroup Blackburn · BB6 7SN ](/nursery/our-lady-st-huberts-playgroup-bb6-7sn-ey357656) - [ Ofsted: Good 0.9 mi ### Early Bairds Children's Nursery Blackburn · BB6 7EE 4.6(22 reviews) ](/nursery/early-bairds-children-s-nursery-bb6-7ee-ey460197) [See all nurseries in Accrington →](/search?q=Accrington) ### Are you the owner of this nursery? 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