Little Barn Owls Nursery and Forest School, Southwater

Little Barn Owls Forest School Nursery, Southwater, is a 52-place nursery offering a nurturing environment where children are supported to develop confidence, independence and a lifelong love of learning. Situated in a beautiful converted barn within the village of Southwater, Horsham.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection from April 2026 places us as one of the highest graded nurseries within the new Ofsted Inspection Frramework after receiving 3 'Exceptional' gradings, and 3 'strong standard' gradings. A first for any West Sussex based nursery group.

Read our report here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2545390

We work closely in partnership with our families and operate an open-door policy, ensuring strong relationships and clear communication to support every child’s individual journey.

Our approach is enquiry-based and inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, where children are seen as capable, creative individuals who lead their own learning through curiosity and exploration. Educators act as 'guides and partners in learning, creating rich, inspiring environments known as 'the third teacher', with open-ended resources, creative studios and sensory experiences that encourage children to express themselves in many different ways.

Our Southwater nursery is organised into carefully planned spaces for different age groups, including baby and toddler rooms and a pre-school environment, all designed to feel calm, nurturing and inspiring. With our inside–out approach, children benefit from free-flow access to outdoor spaces throughout the day, allowing them to move seamlessly between indoor and outdoor learning and follow their own interests.

Outdoor learning is central to life at Southwater. Children spend as much time outside as they do indoors, exploring the garden, engaging in hands-on activities and developing confidence through real experiences.

From the age of three, children attend our Forest School daily, where they explore woodland environments, build dens, climb, cook on open fires and take part in projects inspired by their own ideas.

These experiences support resilience, independence and a strong connection with nature, while encouraging children to safely assess and manage risk. Younger children are gradually introduced to these experiences through outdoor sessions on the adjacent field.

Each day offers a balance of child-led play, small group experiences and meaningful activities such as art, cooking, storytelling and project work, often developing into longer-term projects shaped by children’s interests.

Children enjoy freshly prepared, home-cooked meals each day, with opportunities to be involved in cooking, and Forest School children even prepare their own food over the fire, helping to develop independence and practical life skills.

Every child is supported by a dedicated Key Person who builds a strong relationship with both child and family, helping them to settle confidently and supporting their development. We keep parents closely connected through regular communication, shared observations and our online learning platform, creating a collaborative approach to each child’s learning and wellbeing.

Led by a passionate and experienced team, Little Barn Owls Forest School Nursery, Southwater provides a unique, nature-rich environment where children feel valued, inspired and supported to reach their full potential.

A 10% Sibling Discount is applied to the oldest child from the date of the 2nd child joining.

A 15% Full discount is applied to all Full Time bookings