Little Ferns Forest School
Little Ferns Forest School, is opening in autumn 2026. It is where childhood unfolds in the open air. As the sister nursery to our much-loved Little Ferns in Wendover, just five minutes down the road, we share the same warm, expert team and the same deep belief in childhood, now rooted firmly in the outdoors. Here children will spend their days amongst the grass and trees, learning through exploration, creativity, and a genuine connection to the natural world. Instead of rooms, each age group has its own cosy yurt: a snug, welcoming base from which to head out and discover the woods, the weather, and the wonder of every season. Open 51 weeks a year, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Places are available, so enquire today.
Opening Times
Open 51 weeks per year
Standard hours: 8.00am-6.00pm, Mon-Fri
Extended hours*, 7.30am-6.30pm
Excluding bank holidays & inset days
*Subject to availability
Find Us
The Bucks Goat Centre, Layby Farm, Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5XJ
Just five minutes' drive from our sister nursery, Little Ferns in Wendover.
Forest School at the Heart of Every Day
Forest school is not a once-a-week treat here — it is how we do everything. Led by trained forest school practitioners, children learn outdoors throughout the day, all year round. They light their curiosity through fire-circle stories, mud kitchens, den-building, minibeast hunts, tree climbing, tool use, and seasonal projects that follow the rhythms of the natural world. This daily life outdoors builds resilience, supports emotional wellbeing, and offers endless opportunities for enquiry, imagination, and calm.
Meet The Team
Little Ferns Forest School shares the warm, experienced team that families know and trust from Little Ferns. Some of our most expert practitioners are moving across to lead the new site — including Nursery Manager Cara Jones and Deputy Manager and Forest School Leader Katie Bebb — bringing years of knowledge and the same deep care that has shaped Little Ferns. As the nursery grows, our wider team continues to develop, with further placements confirmed ahead of opening.
Cara Jones
Nursery Manager
Cara is our Nursery Manager. She has worked her way up the nursery ladder over the last 10 years and joined Little Ferns in October 2022. She is deeply passionate about running an exceptional nursery where children feel safe and are surrounded by rich learning opportunities — now leading our new forest school setting, rooted firmly in the outdoors.
Katie Bebb
Deputy Manager, Forest School Leader & SENDCo
Katie is our Deputy Manager and Forest School Leader, bringing a calm and thoughtful approach to leading outdoor learning and supporting children and the team. As our SENDCo she is passionate about inclusive practice, ensuring every child feels understood and supported as they learn and grow in the open air.
Siobhan Hall
Office Administrator
Siobhan keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. As our Office Administrator she is the friendly first point of contact for families — handling enquiries, admissions, and the day-to-day organisation that helps our team focus on the children.
Cara Jones
Nursery Manager
Cara is our Nursery Manager. She has worked her way up the nursery ladder over the last 10 years and joined Little Ferns in October 2022. She is deeply passionate about running an exceptional nursery where children feel safe and are surrounded by rich learning opportunities — now leading our new forest school setting, rooted firmly in the outdoors.
Katie Bebb
Deputy Manager, Forest School Leader & SENDCo
Katie is our Deputy Manager and Forest School Leader, bringing a calm and thoughtful approach to leading outdoor learning and supporting children and the team. As our SENDCo she is passionate about inclusive practice, ensuring every child feels understood and supported as they learn and grow in the open air.
Enrichment Experiences
Alongside daily forest school, children enjoy a rich timetable of enrichment that deepens their skills, curiosity, and connection to the natural world.
Woodwork
Our woodwork specialist guides children to design, build, and problem-solve using real tools and natural materials. These hands-on sessions develop fine motor skills, focus, resilience, and a huge sense of pride as children bring their ideas to life through making.
Yoga & Mindfulness
These gentle outdoor sessions offer children a calm moment to stretch, breathe, and slow down. Through simple movements and guided relaxation — often beneath the trees — they learn to understand their feelings, look after their bodies, and find moments of stillness.
Heuristic Learning
Heuristic learning gives children the freedom to explore everyday and natural objects in their own way, discovering how things move, feel, and fit together through open-ended play. Using natural materials and loose parts, children follow their curiosity, build problem-solving skills, and develop deep focus as they investigate the world around them.
Farm Visits
Regular farm visits bring children face to face with animals, growing food, and the rhythms of rural life. These trips nurture empathy, responsibility, and wonder, helping children understand where food comes from and how to care for living things and the land.
Fees & Funding
See our monthly fees based on your child’s government funding entitlement. To learn more about how funding works, visit our Government Funding page.
| Number of days | No funding | 15 hrs of free funding | 30 hrs of free funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 full days | £1,711.69 | £1,617.00 | £1,332.13 |
| 4 full days | £1,521.50 | £1,236.63 | £951.75 |
| 3 full days | £1,141.13 | £856.25 | £571.38 |
| 2 full days | £760.75 | £475.88 | £187.00 |
| 5 half days | £1051.88 | £767.00 | £482.13 |
| 4 half days | £841.50 | £511.50 | £187 |
| 3 half days | £631.13 | £301.13 | £280.50 |
Half day 8am-1pm or 1pm-6pm, full day 8am-6pm. Fees for funded sessions include all meals, consumables and a broad timetable of enrichment activities.
What Parents Say
“The nursery communicates well with us and is responsive to any concerns. I could not recommend it more highly, and my son will be incredibly sad to leave.”
Rosie, mother of child
“My son's confidence has come on in leaps and bounds, and the nursery are helping to shape him into the most kind and generous little boy. To say he's thriving in this environment would be an understatement.”
Becca, mother of a child
“The activities on offer are outstanding — lots of outdoor play, woodland adventures, crafts, baking, reading, and so much learning.”
Abby, mother of a child
“The nursery communicates well with us and is responsive to any concerns. I could not recommend it more highly, and my son will be incredibly sad to leave.”
Rosie, mother of child
“My son's confidence has come on in leaps and bounds, and the nursery are helping to shape him into the most kind and generous little boy. To say he's thriving in this environment would be an understatement.”
Becca, mother of a child
“The activities on offer are outstanding — lots of outdoor play, woodland adventures, crafts, baking, reading, and so much learning.”
Abby, mother of a child
Careers at Little Ferns Forest School
We believe that the very best early years care starts with the people who provide it. Our team is made up of passionate, dedicated, and creative early years professionals who share our values: putting children first, creating safe and inspiring outdoor environments, and working closely with families.
Awaiting Ofsted Registration
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