The Woodland Nursery provides an exceptional outdoor learning experience for children aged 2 to 5 years old, underpinned by the Forest School philosophy. The nursery fosters a deep connection with nature, encouraging physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Both Blackheath and Kidbrooke Park locations have received an "Outstanding in all areas" rating from Ofsted, highlighting their commitment to high-quality early years education. Children engage in hands-on learning experiences within natural woodland environments, promoting confidence, self-esteem, and the development of essential life skills.
The curriculum aligns with the Early Years Foundation Stage objectives, and the Forest School approach emphasises child-led exploration, creative play, and risk assessment in a safe and controlled setting. This unique educational model, inspired by Scandinavian practices, aims to reconnect children with the natural world, enhancing their senses and fostering a lifelong love for learning outdoors.
The nursery offers free taster sessions for prospective families.
Our ethos
Inspired by Scandinavian practices and the Forest School philosophy, The Woodland Nursery offers an exceptional outdoor learning experience focused on fostering a deep connection with nature. The nursery emphasises child-led exploration, creative play, and risk assessment within natural woodland environments to promote children's confidence, self-esteem, and essential life skills, aligning with Early Years Foundation Stage objectives.
What it's like
Children are very happy and eager to arrive at this welcoming setting, quickly engaging in challenging learning opportunities. They have superb opportunities to develop their physical skills and benefit from excellent opportunities to learn about and respect nature. Children show very high levels of determination and independence, and are exceptionally well prepared for future learning and moves to school.
Fees are structured by location, covering Blackheath and Kidbrooke Park nurseries. Both locations offer morning, afternoon, and all-day sessions, with optional extra hours and specific government funding structures that may require a small hourly payment to cover unfunded hours.
Funding accepted
Good to know
Opening hours
Blackheath: AM session - 8am to 12pm, PM session - 12pm to 4pm, All day session - 8am to 4pm, Optional extra hour available from 4pm to 5pm. Open 48 weeks a year, Monday to Friday, including school holidays. Closed 2 weeks at Easter, 2 weeks at Christmas, and all UK bank holidays. Kidbrooke Park: AM session - 9am to 12pm, PM session - 12.30pm to 3.30pm, All day session - 9am to 3.30pm. Open 39 weeks a year, Monday to Friday. Closed during school holidays and all UK bank holidays.
Session types
AM session, PM session, All day session, Optional extra hour
Age range
2 to 5 years olds
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Established
2017
Last inspected 26 January 2022
What it's like to attend
Children are very happy and eager to arrive at this welcoming setting, quickly engaging in challenging learning opportunities. They have superb opportunities to develop their physical skills and benefit from excellent opportunities to learn about and respect nature. Children show very high levels of determination and independence, and are exceptionally well prepared for future learning and moves to school.
Inspector highlights
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents write that this 'dream nursery' has 'exceeded their expectations'.
Inclusion & environment
Staff work very effectively with parents and closely engage with specialists. This helps to rapidly close identified gaps in children's learning and improves the language and speaking skills of all children, including those who speak or hear a different language at home. Staff recognise and keenly support the individual needs of children.
Children have superb opportunities to develop their physical skills from an early age, climbing trees and swinging on ropes with confidence. They benefit from excellent opportunities to learn about, and respect, nature. The nursery operates the forest school approach to outdoor learning.
My daughter Lea attended this amazing and magical Woodlands Forest school for two years. We moved to London from Singapore when she was two years old, and the Woodlands nursery (both Blackheath and Kidbrooke) and the community of friends and teachers has been the most wonderful things to have happened with our move. My partner and me are so glad Lea got to learn lot of life lessons, social and functional skills at a natural environment. She loves her teachers Tracy, Keith, Amal, Charlotte, Demi, Andrea and Charlie and Sophie and talks about them so much. They have all been very attentive, supportive, caring, and facilitated the best learning environment for her and friends. We have seen Lea thrive in the woodland forest school making friends, enjoying her messy play, muddy puddles, being very social, funny, independent, confident, curious about everything around, being kind to people and nature, love for making almost anything from things she picks up from nature, her love of reading, and storytelling…the list goes on. You will nature based learning at its best here at Woodlands and what an amazing and magical place you have built. Leaving Woodlands was the hardest for us this year when Lea graduated to Reception. We are forever grateful for all the wonderful memories, learnings and community of friends she and us have made through Woodlands. Lea and us are so happy to be part of Woodlands. A big thank you and shout out to the whole Woodlands Nursery team ❤️
Read on Google
Both my daughters attended The Woodland Nursery for the past 3 years. It is the most incredible place for little kids to thrive. The girls both still ask after all staff members and we are still close with lots of families who also attended. Even in the snow my girls came out smiling and telling me stories of all the wonderful things they did. We really struggled leaving and will definitely keep in touch. The owner Tracy is outstanding at what she does and really went over and above for my eldest daughter who was having some delay issues.
Read on Google
Both my son’s attended this setting from age 2 - nearly 5. In my view it provides everything children need. It is a stimulating learning environment wrapped up in nurture and care from attentive and loving staff. Children get the outdoor play that they need, and grow and develop in so many ways - not just academically. I wish I could have frozen time and made our forest school days last forever!! The cherry on the cake is the staff - they are beyond exception and always felt like an extension of our families. My eldest is 8, and still talks about his forest school days with fondness and love!
Read on Google
This place is an incredible forest school. It’s small but lovely full of staff that understand the importance of curiosity and play. There wasn’t a day we regretted it. If u know nursery u think it’s about having a room full of plastic junk and then a load of cold and flu spinning on a carousel. My kid was barely sick. My kid came out brimming with joy. And now my kid is at school and she doesn’t get sick there much either (touch wood). Learning should be fun and healthy , here’s a place to start your kids learning
Read on Google
My children have attended The Woodland Nursery (one after the other) for over 4 years. Over those years I was constantly wowed by the quality of care and education they both got. Tracy and her team and second to none in early years... my children not only got all the amazing benefits of outdoor learning but the quality of interaction from staff, the open ended ed enquiry style of learning and the loving, confidence building culture has given them the best possible foundation for school and life. I absolute cannot recommend this place enough. I would give it 100 stars if I could.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for The Woodland Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Most recent inspection
26 January 2022
Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.
View full Ofsted reportOther Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Woodland Nursery.
London · SE3 8HT
London · SE7 7DG
London · SE7 7DW
London · SE7 8RE
Blackheath · SE3 8SR
London · SE3 8SJ
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
