Term time / All Year
Term Time
The Forest Approach
Ofsted: Outstanding
(Mar 2025)
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
Hampshire
About this day nursery
The Forest Approach is spearheaded by Wendy Hamley, an Early Years Graduate and qualified Forest School Leader boasting nearly three decades of childcare expertise, including 15 years managing preschools. Her extensive background ranges from nursery work to being a children’s representative and a nanny.
Wendy is dedicated to fostering children's development at their individual pace, providing a hands-on learning environment that encourages exploration and curiosity. The Forest Approach emphasises outdoor engagement, reflecting Wendy's passion for nature, which was rekindled during her Forest School training in 2018.
This approach offers inspiring opportunities for both children and adults to build self-esteem and confidence in a natural setting, promoting physical activity and mental well-being. It focuses on holistic development, allowing participants to engage with managed risks to cultivate decision-making skills, independence, and resilience.
Learning takes place in a safe, outdoor woodland environment, facilitating active, unstructured education that caters to diverse learning styles and enhances motor skills through various activities. The Forest Approach also extends to team-building and adult workshops, encouraging everyone to reconnect with the natural world.
Our ethos
The Forest Approach is centred on a Forest School ethos, emphasising outdoor engagement, exploration, and curiosity in natural settings. It focuses on holistic development, managed risks, and building self-esteem, independence, and resilience in children. The approach encourages hands-on, unstructured learning that caters to diverse styles and enhances motor skills.
What it's like
Children are fully immersed in the vibrant learning environment that sparks their curiosity and engages their interest. The large, open outdoor space is where children spend most of their time, exploring activities that enable them to think critically, be physically active and creative. Children are visibly content, displaying a strong sense of safety and security.
Forest SchoolOutdoor EducationHolistic DevelopmentManaged Risk-Taking
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 →Key facts
Registered with Ofsted
2022
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for The Forest Approach
Last inspected 13 March 2025
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
What it's like to attend
Children are fully immersed in the vibrant learning environment that sparks their curiosity and engages their interest. The large, open outdoor space is where children spend most of their time, exploring activities that enable them to think critically, be physically active and creative. Children are visibly content, displaying a strong sense of safety and security.
Inspector highlights
- Children are fully immersed in the vibrant learning environment, sparking their curiosity.
- The large, open outdoor space allows children to think critically, be physically active and creative.
- Children develop strong independence skills and take responsibility for their day.
- Leaders are highly inspiring and have crafted an exceptional curriculum.
- Staff demonstrate a deep understanding of each child's individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Inspection #10376340 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents consistently praise the support their children receive at the pre-school and the great progress they have made. They highlight their children's growing vocabulary, increased confidence and achievements in toilet training.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff demonstrate a deep understanding of each child's individual needs, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff expertly build on the skills that children are ready to learn and have a plan for progression.
Outdoor space
The large, open outdoor space is where children spend most of their time, exploring activities that enable them to think critically, be physically active and creative. Children participate in forest school sessions and enjoy outings to local forests and cafés.
Google Reviews of The Forest Approach
5.0
(5 Google reviews)
Magda Pascoe
4 years ago
'It looks even more amazing than in my dreams' were my daughters words when we arrived for her birthday party at The Forest Approach. This is a gorgeous set up in the middle of a field! The hut gave us shelter and the little bell tent a quiet, cosy space if needed. Wendy was very accommodating and fantastic with the children. The children were allowed free play on all the activities. They enjoyed mixing and pouring potions, making candles and decorating tiles. They played lovely imaginative games in the mud kitchen, completed the the obstacle course and explored the sand tray. There was clay so we made clay animals and figures. Anything the children made they took home as part of thier party bag. The candles were particularly impressive and individual as the children decorated the jars and then chose the fragrance and colour of the candle. The potions were also taken home in little jars. At the end of the party we all made s'mores around a camp fire which we lit with a flint. Wendy allowed the children to be independent throughout the party whilst keeping all children safe. My daughter would love to come back so we'll be looking into Wendy's school holiday sessions.
Read on Google
Gwen Jones
4 years ago
Our family love The Forest Approach. My four year old and I have been attending the Acorn and Oak sessions on a Wednesday morning for a year and my daughter now also attends the pre-school sessions on a Tuesday morning. My eldest daughter joins us during the school holidays. The outdoor setting and free play format combined with different nature based craft activities each week allows the children to explore their environment on their own terms. Wendy has a special connection with the children that means she is able to bring the best out of them. She is able to draw out their natural curiosity, encourages them to be independent, and safely manage risk. I would thoroughly recommend The Forest Approach for children of all ages. And the adults love the sessions as much as the children!
Read on Google
Rachel Crompton
4 years ago
A brilliant outdoor setting for children to attend Forest School. Wendy has a variety of different sessions including those for parent and child and home educated children. Wendy cares deeply for the children and spends time getting to know them all. We attend the Acorn and Oak sessions and my little one loves them. There is a large variety of free play areas and there is always painting and clay work along with a special focus each week. Very reasonably priced.
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Liz Dickson
4 years ago
Been attending “Forest school” as my 3 year old grandson Dax calls it, for over a year now and love it! Wendy is a beautiful soul and we both love her to bits. I would recommend these classes to anyone, they are such good fun. My only complaint is that 1.5 hours once a week isn’t enough. The time flies by and Dax can’t wait to go back again. Every week is different and there’s so much to do rain or shine 🥰
Read on Google
Silka pp
3 years ago
An amazing place for children to explore and be in touch with nature, my son loves it!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for The Forest Approach. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: March 2025
- April 2025Outstanding
- March 2025Outstanding
Frequently asked about The Forest Approach
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