Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

My son has just started at Friends Forest and I’m so glad we chose this nursery. The staff are amazing, helpful and engaging. We got photos and updates during his settling week and beyond. He hasn’t even shed one tear when I drop him off - the best review I think! Thank you so much FF Team.

Fantastic staff, children are catered for and engaged on many levels to be independent and develop their life skills. Could not ask for a more thoughtful and safe environment for a child to be. I wish them well in all they do.

My two children have just started at Friends Forest after coming from another nursery, the staff have been fantastic with settling them in. We have recently moved house so the children have experienced a lot of change with this and lockdown, I was worried about the change in nursery on top but I needn't have worried as they have been made to feel really welcome and the staff have been excellent. We chose the nursery as we loved the feel and environment, even with the changes that have had to be made due to lockdown it has such a lovely feel. It's reassuring as a parent to know you are leaving your children with staff who really care for the children and look after them so fantastically.

As a mummy of three, I have used Friends Forest Nursery on and off for the last seven years! I have always found them so kind and caring. My children have all settled really quickly and have always loved their days at nursery. All the staff past and present have been and are amazing and really good with the children. They give lots of cuddles, organise great varied activities, they also get a lot of fresh air which I love for them. They have all enjoyed the lovely home-cooked meals and snacks and eat really well during the day. They have also napped well, my youngest is currently sleeping in the garden sleeping pod and has a lovely nap after lunch when he is there. I would not hesitate to recommend Friends Nursery and feel so lucky to have found this nursery for my children.

Forest Friends Nursery - Ash, is such a lovely place to send your child to with warm and welcoming staff, colourful surroundings to learn in and place where children are encouraged to play and explore their imaginations indoors and outdoors. My son has flourished in confidence, counting, letters and responsibility to name but a few and as well as creating lovely friendships along the way. All the team have been amazing throughout our time there, and we have had nothing but great experiences since sending our son 4-years ago, a very special nursery, that should you choose to send your child to, you will not be disappointed.

The staff are amazing and so friendly. They play outside all the time, which I love and so does she! It’s just a lovely environment for your child to grow up and learn in.

He is such an outdoor child, and the environment here is perfect for him. All the team here are so friendly and really show they care for all the children they look after. I know he is really happy when he is there, and always comes out with a big smile on his face.

My son has attended the nursery since he was 18-months, and now he is three and moving on to the preschool. I have no doubt that I will be sending my 1-year-old there very soon. The staff are amazing with the children. My son knows all of them. I like how they all work together and has such a friendly happy atmosphere. My sons love it. Forest school they get to spend time outside. Throughout this difficult time, the staff has been very responsive and helping us to get the children returning back to the nursery. We would highly recommend the nursery to others.

I have overall been very satisfied with this nursery. The staff are caring and easy-going regarding parents requests. The kids seem to be very close to their caregivers, and that is very important. The management has been so very flexible, good at communicating, and no surprises on anything - good consistent care of our son.

Friends Forest Nursery have been fantastic from day one, but have been particularly brilliant this last month with everyone returning from lockdown. Nothing is too much trouble and the lovely staff are even good at comforting parents! My daughter loves coming here to "little school" and learns things without even realising it by having fun with her friends. We've even stolen the forest walk idea to use as a family at the weekends. It's all great preparation for "big school" in September.

Both my children have attended Friends since they were 10 months old (now 2 and 4). It is a brilliant nursery, wonderfully friendly, lovely supportive staff and they have been so understanding with issues and helping to support my children. They spend so much time outside and discovering the great outdoors. I would thoroughly recommend and will be incredibly sad when my youngest goes off to school.

I first started sending my children to Friends in Ash in 2016 and still have a 2-year-old attending. I chose Friends as their focus on being outdoors and the cosy, intimate nature of the care. I have been very happy with the nursery overall. My kids have learnt a lot and the close bonds they form with staff reassure me they are well cared for. My 5-year-old was independent and well prepared for school and supported through the arrival of her baby brother. My two-year-old is learning numbers and has a great vocabulary. Activities are designed to stimulate and engage the children, with a good balance of indoor messy play and outdoor adventures, all with a focus on development and learning. The food is top-notch and enjoyed by staff and kids alike. I also commend their flexibility - either when transitioning between age groups, or on days of attendance. With re-opening after lockdown, my 2-year-old just could not wait to get back and see the staff and his friends! Highly recommended.

The children are so happy and content, whenever I walk into the setting they are happy and playing with their peers or engaging with the staff. The activities are always so inviting – I could have easily been late for work wanting to join in!

Thank you to everyone at Friends Forest for making such a daunting process for me an amazing experience.

Having returned to the nursery after the lockdown closure, we are really impressed by the steps that the nursery has implemented whilst managing to keep a loving and caring environment.

On the subject of staff: each and every one of them is incredible! They are so friendly and always know what your child has been doing that day - even if they aren’t their key worker. Nothing feels like too much for them and they have dealt with the post-lockdown reopening of the nursery amazingly so a big thank you to the manager and the whole team!

My son had just settled in before the lockdown, he loves the staff and is always excited the moment we leave the house. Activities vary and lots to do. Throughout lockdown, he would ask to go and when I finally said he was going back to “school” as he calls it, he was so excited. A different boy. Since returning, I have been very impressed and amazed how this fantastic team are dealing with this situation and how different my son has become since returning and he loves washing his hands. The variety of activities is exceptional from forest school to storytime. His speech and language have really developed and come on leaps and bounds since starting in January. But his social interaction is getting better each week he is going.

Very friendly team. Easy to engage with and approachable. Handovers at the end of the day are summarised and informative. The team have made my son settle very well into pre-school, with their enthusiasm.

My little girl started Friends Forest Nursery this month. I viewed many nurseries in the area but Friends Forest was the best by far. The team are dedicated, passionate and go above and beyond to make myself and little girl feel welcome. Children always seem happy when arriving and leaving the setting. I love walking into the smell of delicious food being cooked for the children. The manager is always available and answers any questions asked, she is attentive and very proud of her nursery and team.

My little boy has been coming to Friends Forest Nursery since he was 9 months old. The care and general wellbeing each member of staff has for him is really comforting. Every time we pull up in the carpark he gets excited and can't wait to get through the door! The range of activities they do is brilliant and the food is always a big hit with him! The staff and I have worked together closely with my son's progression into a toddler. Friendly staff and very warm and approachable environment.