Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Sept 2025)
·
5.0(4 parent reviews)
·Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre, Featherbed Lane, Croydon, CR0 9AA · Croydon
Number of places
21 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Croydon

About this day nursery

The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery, located in Croydon, CR0 9AA, is a unique childcare provider that distinguishes itself through its complete embrace of a forest school philosophy. This nursery champions an outdoor-centric approach to early years education, offering children an immersive experience in nature.

The curriculum is deeply rooted in fostering a connection with the natural world, promoting hands-on learning, and encouraging exploration and discovery within a woodland environment. This setting allows children to develop a wide range of skills, from problem-solving and resilience to creativity and social interaction, all while surrounded by the benefits of outdoor play.

The Wood Shed prioritises child-led learning, where the children's interests guide activities and their natural curiosity is nurtured. This approach cultivates independence and confidence, preparing them for future educational journeys.

The nursery’s commitment to an entirely outdoor experience means that children are engaged in activities that continually adapt to the seasons and natural changes, offering a dynamic and ever-evolving learning landscape. The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery not only provides childcare but also aims to instil a deep appreciation and understanding of the natural environment in every child.

Our ethos

The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery offers an outdoor-centric, forest school philosophy where children's interests guide child-led learning. They foster a connection with the natural world, promoting hands-on exploration and discovery in a woodland environment, aiming to instil a deep appreciation for nature.

What it's like

Leaders have an exemplary vision for all children to succeed in this unique setting. They empower children to become independent, resilient and respectful learners, resulting in children thriving in the forest environment and developing a solid foundation of skills for future learning.

Forest SchoolOutdoor-centric learningNature immersion in nature

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

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery

Last inspected 9 September 2025 · Eleeza Byer

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Leaders have an exemplary vision for all children to succeed in this unique setting. They empower children to become independent, resilient and respectful learners, resulting in children thriving in the forest environment and developing a solid foundation of skills for future learning.

Inspector highlights

  • All staff are passionate about the outdoor approach to learning and have an excellent understanding of how to improve outcomes within this unique environment.
  • Staff implement and sequence the curriculum exceedingly well, continually inspiring children's learning by using the environment around them and ongoing interactions.
  • Staff continuously facilitate children's learning exceptionally well by following children's interests, leading to children being highly involved in testing out their own ideas and celebrating achievements.
  • Staff assess children's starting points and plan for individual needs, fostering positive relationships and supporting children to make outstanding progress.
  • The setting has an exceptional partnership with parents, ensuring clear communication, supportive discussions, and children's unquestionable confidence and resilience.
Inspection #10398651 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff swiftly identify barriers to children's learning, including those with emerging needs. They create support plans for children and offer parents advice on sleep and nutrition at home. Proactive engagement with local authority agencies and ongoing partnerships with parents lead to excellent outcomes for children.

Outdoor space

Children thrive in the forest environment. Staff continually encourage children to keep themselves safe in the forest environment, teaching them about poisonous mushrooms and plants so they can play and learn safely. Children are encouraged to problem-solve and think independently, such as when they work out how to remove a conker safely from the shell.

Parent Reviews of The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery

5.0
(4)
jo ss
6 years ago

My daughter started her adventure with The Woodshed Forest School Nursery in March 2019. In few months she become fearless learner. She is very confident and independent. Her vocabulary is amazing. All thanks to amazing staff. My daughter is really happy there, she loves picnics in woods and singing by fire. Forest school is unique nursery and it’s the best place for children to thrive.

Read on Google
Ruth Fleming
6 years ago

My son loves it here - so much that he now tells me “no go home, stay forest school”. The staff are extremely motivated to give each child the best learning and play experiences, and they are also very caring. They teach respect and emotional resilience incredibly well. Activities include walks looking for forest treasures, bug hunts, mud play, rolling down grassy (or muddy!) slopes, crafts, woodwork, campfire singing, games, cosy story-times under canvas, and picnics.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2019

  • September 2025Outstanding
  • November 2019Outstanding

Frequently asked about The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery

About the setting

The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery registered in 2018 and operates from the Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre, in the London Borough of Croydon. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, 38 weeks of the year. There are five staff, with four qualified at level 3 and one unqualified. The setting provides government-funded childcare places and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

URN
EY559256
Registered person
Jigsaw (Croydon) Ltd
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

Nearby day nurseries in Croydon

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Wood Shed Forest School and Nursery.

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