Opening hours
each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm
Little Barn Owls offers an enriching early years education experience across multiple locations, including The Orchard in Horsham. Recognised with awards such as The Nursery World Award for Enabling Environments 2024, the nursery group prides itself on its innovative forest and farm school approach.
Their philosophy centres on nurturing confident, caring, and curious children through engaging activities and a strong connection to nature. The Orchard branch is situated on Cowfold Road, West Grinstead, within Horsham, and offers a welcoming environment for young learners.
Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in nursery life, with opportunities spanning parents' evenings, association activities, and workshops. The admissions process is structured on a first-come, first-served basis, with a registration fee and a refundable deposit required to secure a place.
While the primary intake window is from September to January, children can start at other times, potentially incurring a retainer fee. The nursery also offers minimum booking options, often on Mondays and Fridays, and maintains a waiting list for desired start dates or days.
What it's like
From a very young age, children learn to be fully independent and make their own choices, leading to strong concentration and fine motor skills. They show an exceptional understanding of caring for others and relish explaining how they assess risks in their play, demonstrating confidence and ease with challenges in a safe environment.
Charges include a registration fee and a refundable deposit payable upon space confirmation. A monthly retainer fee is charged if a child starts outside the standard admissions period. No session or hourly rates are provided.
Good to know
Opening hours
each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2023
Last inspected 13 August 2025 · Helen Penticost
What it's like to attend
From a very young age, children learn to be fully independent and make their own choices, leading to strong concentration and fine motor skills. They show an exceptional understanding of caring for others and relish explaining how they assess risks in their play, demonstrating confidence and ease with challenges in a safe environment.
Inspector highlights
Inclusion & environment
The extremely clear and ambitious curriculum plan is exceptionally thought-provoking and challenging for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Children have continual opportunities to take risks in safe surroundings. For example, children learn to climb onto the large tractor tyres showing a clear sequence of skills developed over time. They understand the risks in their play and how to minimise these with confidence and exceptional ease.
This nursery is the epitome of what a nursery should be. Our son absolutely thrived here and the staff all the way through from head office through to on site management & the carers were always fantastic, greeting us with smiles and our son felt so very comfortable here. I highly recommend anyone give these guys a try if you are looking for somewhere for your little people to make their next big change!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Little Barn Owls, The Orchard. See all on Google Maps
Most recent inspection
13 August 2025
Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.
View full Ofsted reportLittle Barn Owls, The Orchard registered in 2023 and is located in West Grinstead, West Sussex. The nursery is open 51 weeks of the year, each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm, and accepts funding for two, three and four-year-olds. It employs 23 staff, with 14 holding relevant early years qualifications, and follows the Reggio Emilia approach to education.
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Little Barn Owls, The Orchard.
Horsham · RH13 8DA
Horsham · RH13 8JJ
Horsham · RH13 8JE
Partridge Green · RH13 8HX
Southwater · RH13 9DP
Southwater · RH13 9BT
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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