Business Details
Trusted Forest School & Preschool in Wimborne
At Little Owls, we believe learning should be enjoyable, exciting, and fun. Established to provide children with a nurturing environment, we combine traditional early years education with immersive outdoor experiences through our Forest School programme. Our highly qualified team ensures every child feels emotionally secure, fostering resilience and independence while exploring the natural world. With over two decades of experience, we prioritise safeguarding and tailor our approach to each child's unique needs. Our countryside setting in Witchampton offers a safe space for discovery, creativity, and lifelong learning.We collaborate closely with parents to create an enabling environment where children thrive. Our commitment to quality has earned us recognition from Ofsted and trust within the local community. Through structured routines and flexible learning, we help children develop social, emotional, and physical skills. Our Forest School sessions, held in rotating weekly slots, encourage problem-solving, teamwork, and a deep connection with nature. By blending structured activities with free play, we ensure every child at Little Owls receives a holistic foundation for future growth.
Services
Forest School Programme
Outdoor Learning Sessions
Preschool Education
Child Care Services
Nature Exploration
Risk Assessment Training
Inclusive Outdoor Activities
Highlights and features
- We offer Forest School sessions in a secure rural environment with trained staff
- Our team includes experienced educators with 20+ years in early years care
- We provide tailored outdoor learning experiences for children aged 2-5
- We maintain 1:1 support ratios for inclusive outdoor activities
- We hold regular risk assessments and first aid certifications
Associations and certifications
- Ofsted
Services
Forest School Programme
Our Forest School Programme delivers structured outdoor learning in natural woodland settings. Children engage in practical activities that develop resilience, creativity, and teamwork while connecting with nature. Sessions include seasonal exploration, risk assessment practice, and hands-on environmental education tailored to early years development needs.
Preschool Education
We provide comprehensive preschool education for children aged 2-5 through a balanced mix of free play and guided learning. Our curriculum focuses on social skills, emotional development, and foundational academic concepts delivered in both indoor and outdoor environments with qualified early years specialists.
Outdoor Learning Sessions
Outdoor Learning Sessions combine physical exploration with educational activities in our rural setting. Children participate in structured forest school activities alongside free play, developing motor skills and environmental awareness through hands-on experiences like river exploration and woodland adventures.
Inclusive Childcare
Our inclusive childcare service accommodates all children with individualised support plans. We maintain strict staff ratios and provide 1:1 assistance when needed, ensuring every child can fully participate in activities while feeling safe and supported in our nurturing environment.
Risk Assessment Training
Through guided outdoor activities, we teach children essential risk assessment skills in a controlled environment. Our staff implement thorough safety protocols while encouraging age-appropriate risk-taking to build confidence, problem-solving abilities, and situational awareness.
People
Kellie Clare
Pre School Manager
Kellie leads our educational team with extensive early years expertise, ensuring high-quality care and learning experiences that align with our forest school philosophy.
Wendy Gale
Deputy Manager
With 20 years at Little Owls, Wendy brings deep local knowledge and a passion for rural early education, fostering our family-oriented approach to childcare.
Tina Law
Pre-School Assistant
Former primary teacher Tina specialises in nurturing young children's curiosity, combining her teaching background with forest school principles to create engaging learning experiences.
Kirsty Browning
Admin Officer
Kirsty manages our administrative operations with organisational expertise, ensuring smooth day-to-day running while maintaining close connections with families.
Jenny Walker
Pre-School Assistant
Jenny contributes to our caring environment with hands-on experience supporting children's developmental needs through both indoor and outdoor learning activities.
Questions
What age range do you accept?
We accept children aged 2 to 5 years old for our preschool and forest school programmes.
Are meals provided?
Children bring packed lunches; we provide morning and afternoon snacks as part of our session options.
Do you offer funded places?
Yes, we accept 15, 30, and 2-year-old government funding schemes subject to eligibility criteria.
What should children wear?
For forest school sessions, children need waterproof clothing, wellies, warm layers, and named water bottles.
How do you ensure safety?
We maintain strict staff ratios, conduct regular risk assessments, and have first aid trained personnel during all activities.
Can parents visit?
Prospective parents can arrange visits by contacting our office to see our facilities and meet staff.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Jessica Harding
Jan 26, 2021
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Amazing pre-school, beautiful surroundings, have been thrilled sending both my Daughters there. Could not rate this pre-school enough!!
Natalie Mullin
Jan 15, 2021
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My daughter went here and it's absolutely amazing. We fell in love with the setting straight away. The staff are so caring and friendly. They made us feel so welcome when we first went to look around. I love that they use the natural environment around them for forest school and to educate the children. They have so much to give as a preschool and I can't recommend it enough. The preschool and staff give off such a lovely vibe. :-)
Lucy Tofis
Jan 11, 2021
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Such a warm and loving preschool. My son was very apprehensive about starting and was very shy however everyone was so patient and lovely and he's loving his time there now. Small classes mean excellent hands on care and such a wide variety of activities are offered. Thank you so much for all you do :-)
Mandy Steele
Jan 02, 2021
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The most amazing pre school!! my 3 children have all attended and have all thrived.. the pre school/nursery has very small numbers compared to other bigger settings, which means the children are nurtured and cared for to a very high level.. my children especially love the forest school sessions, and being able to drop from 8am for breakfast club has been a god send.. I couldnt speak of the setting or the staff any higher, theyre amazing.
Heather Shepherd
Nov 24, 2020
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My Grandson attends Little Owls preschool and nursery and I often collect him from his sessions. The staff are warm, friendly and professional. My grandson, although a little shy, thrives there under their caring guidance. There is a wonderful mix of outdoor life around the local area as well as a huge variety of indoor activities. I cannot recommend this caring, lovely nursery highly enough.
Miss Welsby'S. GrammarMia
Jul 02, 2020
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality
With a beautiful setting; kind, passionate and professional staff; small group sizes and regular outdoor adventures (I mean proper adventures!), its no surprise my little one loves being a Little Owl. Only wish I could go myself!
With a beautiful setting; kind, passionate and professional staff; small group sizes and regular outdoor adventures (I mean proper adventures!), its no surprise my little one loves being a Little Owl. Only wish I could go myself!
