Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Little Forest Folk in London

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2021)
·
4.6(11 parent reviews) ·19th Wimbledon Scout Hut, Cottenham Park Road, London, SW20 0SX · Merton
Number of places
32 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2021
Local authority
Merton

About this day nursery

Little Forest Folk Wimbledon offers a unique outdoor nursery experience, transporting children from a dedicated scout hut drop-off point to a securely fenced forest setting adjacent to Wimbledon Common. Here, children are encouraged to explore, play, and learn through child-led and play-based activities, primarily utilising natural materials and fostering imagination.

The nursery operates full-day sessions, 8am to 6pm, 51 weeks a year, with a minimum attendance of three days per week. Good nutrition is a priority, with all meals and snacks being homemade, simple, and adventurous.

They also incorporate "Wild Cooking Fridays" for a hands-on culinary experience. The setting includes an 8-meter geodesic dome for shelter and rest, ensuring comfort while maintaining a focus on outdoor engagement.

Little Forest Folk Wimbledon is committed to providing a rich, stimulating environment where children can thrive in a natural, wild setting.

Our ethos

Our play is child-led and play-based. Children's imaginations are the only barrier to a day at Little Forest Folk and they are encouraged to run, imagine, create and reflect. Resources are primarily natural materials with some basic props provided to aid exploration. Good nutrition is something that we hold in high regard. All our meals are home-made, simple, yet adventurous and are packed with enough energy to ensure the children can be active and happy all day.

What it's like

Staff at Little Forest Folk create a welcoming environment in the forest, encouraging children to explore freely and independently, fostering their understanding of the world. Children are confident, motivated, and curious, enjoying group activities and learning forest rules. Staff have high expectations and support children in taking appropriate risks and developing physical skills.

Forest SchoolOutdoor-focusedChild-led playNutritious homemade foodMinibus transport

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured around daily rates, with monthly packages available for children attending three to five days per week. Holiday camps are charged at a flat daily rate. Funded hours incur additional hourly fees for food, consumables, and extra activities, alongside separate rates for extra hours.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Monthly fee options are available for three, four, or five days per week.
  • Funded sessions incur additional hourly charges for food, consumables, and extra activities.
  • Additional hours and private sessions outside of funded hours are charged at an hourly rate.

Key facts

Opening hours

8:00am - 6:00pm, Monday - Friday, 51 weeks per year

Food

All meals and snacks provided (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon snacks)

Age range

2+ years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Session types

Full Day

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Forest Folk

Last inspected 14 September 2021 · Frances Oliver

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

Staff at Little Forest Folk create a welcoming environment in the forest, encouraging children to explore freely and independently, fostering their understanding of the world. Children are confident, motivated, and curious, enjoying group activities and learning forest rules. Staff have high expectations and support children in taking appropriate risks and developing physical skills.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are curious and show a positive attitude to their learning.
  • Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills.
  • Staff help children to develop their understanding of how to keep safe.
  • The manager has high expectations of everyone and reflects on her practice.
  • Staff have warm and caring relationships with the children.

Areas to develop

  • 1review the quality of children's learning during less-structured times of the day to ensure that they remain engaged in purposeful play
  • 2strengthen the monitoring of staff's performance and focus more precisely on identifying how staff can improve the effectiveness of teaching to the highest level.
Inspection #10138143 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

their children love attending the forest school

they are well informed about their child's learning and development

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who receive funding are supported well. The manager works closely with parents, staff and other professionals to ensure that children get the required level of support.

Outdoor space

Staff do not always consider how they can fully utilise the outdoor learning environment to ensure that children are engaged in purposeful play at all times. Children learn to manage their own risks, for example, climbing trees safely, which helps to promote their physical development.

Parent Reviews of Little Forest Folk

4.6
(11)
Nur DikerKöksal
7 months ago

My son joined the Little Forest Folk / Wimbledon during summer 2025 which was the perfect time to be outdoor for a 3 years old. The team was so caring and kind to him that his settling did not take long. It was even a great fun for him to have a nap in the tents! Everyday was a good example of creativity and they did not need anything to play other than the nature which is the best part, I guess. He had such a great time that he still wants to visit his teachers there. Probably we will soon! :)

Read on Google
Hannah Burns
6 months ago

A wonderful forest nursery in Wimbledon common where the staff are nurturing and the place is very well run by Poppy, the manager. Our son started 2 months ago and has settled so well. We’ve been impressed by the constant and clear communication with parents and the high staff:child ratio. Our son is thriving with the mixed age group setting, and thanks to a strong bond with his key person. Overall a big step up vs. our previous nursery.

Read on Google
Liz Platt
a year ago

Both our kids have been through Little Forest Folk in Wimbledon. It really has been the most incredible experience for them. My youngest is about to leave to go to school and it's hard to say goodbye to this incredible setting. The kids are encouraged to be adventurous, inquisitive and kind. They learn from the staff and each other in such an important way that isn't possible in the four walls of a traditional nursery and they seem to get less sickness bugs and general illness. For any prospective parents this a wonderful nurturing first experience of childcare and education. It's the best investment we have made to date. Thank you to the incredible staff for your dedication and care. In the depths of winter, keeping little hands warm and mind involved, to the heat of summer, endlessly applying suncream, while providing water play and fun in shady spots. You have been wonderful! We will be back for holiday camps for certain.

Read on Google
Olivia Gomez
a year ago

Wimbledon Forest Folk is the most magical place! I can't recommend it enough, the staff, the activities, the meals, everything is faultless. Our daughter has loved her forest adventures. In terms of nursery settings, this is something special and the kids have the most fun filled days outside with their peers and the amazing nursery educators. We are so grateful!

Read on Google
Christoph Hager
a year ago

We are sending our two boys there, and are extremely content with the nursery, the team, and more importantly how our boys are developing. They get plenty of fresh air, build a robust immune system (in fact, they have been sick only one time this winter), and become real forest rangers. We could not recommend it more!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Little Forest Folk. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: February 2016

  • September 2021Good
  • February 2016Outstanding

Frequently asked about Little Forest Folk

About the setting

Little Forest Folk registered in 2014 and operates from a scout hut in Wimbledon, in the London Borough of Merton. It uses the nearby Fishponds nature reserve to provide a forest school learning environment. The setting operates from 8am to 6pm, five days a week, all year round. It provides funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

URN
EY483521
Registered person
Little Forest Folk Ltd
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Outstanding

Nearby day nurseries in London

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Little Forest Folk.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

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