Great and Small Forest School

Cottams Farm, Whalley Road, Clayton Le Moors, Accrington BB5 5SB
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8.8 20 Reviews
  • Great and Small Forest School, Accrington
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9.3

Type of Service

  • Nursery School
  • Open term time
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Victoria Cocken (Managing Director)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 3

Total Places for Children

  • 16

Age Range

  • from 3 years 0 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • £40.00 for a full day. Funded hours accepted

  • Sustainability charge requested for funded places

Opening Times

  • Monday 09:00-15:00
    Tuesday 09:00-15:00
    Wednesday 09:00-15:00
    Thursday 09:00-15:00
    Friday 09:00-15:00

When Closed

  • School Holidays

Parking

  • Parking is along Whalley Road and parents/children are met at the gate directly facing The Hyndburn restaurant. Parents are asked to park considerately bearing in mind that it is a main road and away from the neighbouring houses.

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Great and Small Forest School Reviews (20)

8.8

Great and Small Forest School has a Review Score of 8.8 (8.750) out of 10, based on 2 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Great and Small Forest School has 20 reviews.

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Reviewer Connection to Great and Small Forest School
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Total of 20, showing 1-20
Review from Clare R (Mother of Child) published on 6 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little one had the best Valentine's Day at Great and Small Forest School. She comes home full of stories, memories, mud and a big smile, so what more can a mummy want?
Thank you to the staff who have made her feel so comfortable and giving her the nature memories.
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Review from Amy T (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
An amazing place to let your children be children. My son comes back home full of mud, laugher and joy. He can not wait for forest school day. The leaders are wonderful with the children.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you so much for your lovely words, we are honoured to be a part of your son's childhood.
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Review from J M (Mother of Child) published on 9 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Excellent setting - kind and caring staff who go the extra mile for my son who is autistic. He has been attending for 18 months and has made lots of friends and learned a lot. The staff are very knowledgeable and make the day interesting for the children.
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Review from James W (Father of Child) published on 28 October 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy absolutely raves about his Forest School and it's sad to see him leave, he has made lots of friends and enjoyed playing games with them in the great outdoors. I can highly recommend Great and Small, the staff are lovely, the environment is brilliant and the kids have a great time! It's
always nice to see little action shots of them every week too!
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your lovely words. It's been an absolute joy to watch your little boy play and thrive in the woodland. We shall miss him lots but know that he will continue to thrive at school.…read more
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Review from Amilia C (Mother of Child) published on 16 December 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son (3) has been coming to Forest School on Tuesday mornings since September. He absolutely loves it, he’s been buzzing with enthusiasm after every session and it is a highlight of his week. I have been so impressed with the weekly observations we receive through the online journal, the personalised
and detailed comments really make my day and it’s lovely to know he is being so well looked after. The passion from the staff and their care for the children shine through, and as a parent, that really is the most important thing! The opportunity to mix with other children, play on their own terms and follow their own interests is fantastic and I would highly recommend this setting to all of my friends. My other son who is nearly 2 will love it too when he is old enough to join in!
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your lovely review and kind words. It's great to hear that you understand the benefits of our setting and appreciate our communication - it's really important to us to have good, open…read more
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Review from Ashleigh H (Mother of Child) published on 16 December 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl has absolutely loved coming to Forest School. She has made her first-ever friends and after being really shy due to being in lockdown she has really come out of her shell. She loves doing the different activities each week especially painting and adores splashing in the stream when it
runs through. Thanks for being such an amazing part of her development. We can't wait to book on to the next block.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your lovely review and kind words. Lockdown has been tough for many families and children so it's nice to hear that we have helped in some small way. We are so pleased that you enjoy our…read more
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Review from Victoria B (Mother of Child) published on 10 December 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My 3-year-old started the preschool sessions in September 2021. He absolutely loves it and is very excited on Sunday nights getting ready! He comes home absolutely full of mud which is perfect, showing he’s had a busy day exploring. He attends one day a week and spends three days a week at the kindergarten.
All using funded hours. I fully trust them with my son's allergies. He tells me about playing in the water, the mud kitchen and adding water to hills to make them a better slide! I also have the option to pay for lunch which is made on the campfire which my boy loves!
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your lovely review. Your little boy really does enjoy both settings and it's lovely to watch him grow.
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Review from Bethany J (Mother of Child) published on 9 December 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has attended this forest school since it very first started doing preschool sessions! It is a very big and important part of my son's life and I believe it has contributed to his confidence in himself in almost every way.
He started at age three and is now seven. He goes one day a week with
some other older children that are home educated/flexi-schooled and they have the most amazing adventures.
Their ancient bit of woodland is the perfect environment to be in which they have developed to make it a nice place to spend prolonged periods of time.
Activities and projects are planned for the children, but they are also given the trust and freedom to follow their own plans for the day if that’s what they want to do.
I could keep going about how much we love the forest school, but the fact my son loves it so much that he celebrates that he’s going the next day says it all!
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your lovely review. Your son is certainly an integral part of our setting as he's been with us since the beginning! It's an honour to have been and continue to be an important part of…read more
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Review from Brydie K (Mother of Child) published on 9 December 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Forest School since October 2020. He absolutely loves it and has progressed in so many ways. He has become more connected to nature and has a real love for the outdoors. The staff at Great and Small are nurturing and provide an environment where children gain confidence and
self-esteem. The setting also allows children to engage in risky play which has many benefits for children’s development. It’s a wonderful childcare setting and I am so happy that my little boy loves attending!
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your lovely review. Your son always wears a big smile on his face when he's at either of our settings and it's wonderful to see and be part of his happiness.
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Review from Nyree S (Mother of Child) published on 9 December 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Forest School is such a special place, full of adventure and excitement as well as being so positive for the children's mental health and wellbeing. My daughter has loved learning about fire safety, using special tools and getting creative in the amazing mud kitchen. The staff are wonderful, so caring
and passionate about forest school education and its benefits. We have really loved our time at Forest School.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you so much for your lovely review. The mud kitchen certainly is an enjoyable feature of our forest school for many children.
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Review from Jenny S (Mother of Child) published on 4 August 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending the Forest School here for the last 18 months (lockdown permitting) and has really enjoyed his time exploring, adventuring and learning new skills. He especially loves the tyre swing and helping out the Forest School Leader. Forest school really helps keep his mind curious
and his body active. Thank you everyone for helping give him such a good start in life!
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Review from Siobhan T (Mother of Child) published on 9 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Great and Small Forest School for the previous two academic years. She absolutely loves it. Over her time there her confidence has come on leaps and bounds and she has become much more resilient. We've always been an outdoorsy family but now it seems the weather does not
faze her and she is more than happy to spend large amounts of time out there, accompanied or not, when safe. The staff are always so welcoming and my daughter has a great connection with them. She has learnt some great skills in her time there and has developed some lovely friendships too. To top it all off, the fire cooked meals and snacks are a highlight of her day!
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your lovely review. We certainly enjoy having your daughter with us too and seeing her confidence, resilience and independence growing every week.
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Review from Jake C (Father of Child) published on 6 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I would highly recommend! Since attending, our son has really become more confident and extroverted. The activities he takes part in are varied and manage to hold his attention whilst still being educational. We enjoy the regular updates on the accompanying app that keeps us well informed of what he's
up to and his development regarding things such as relationships with peers and functional skills.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. From our part it is a privilege to be able to see your son's development and enjoyment at both of our settings. I'm pleased that you like the app; we find it is an effective…read more
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Review from Rachael L (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child loves going to Forset School, she attends one day a week and has done since September 2020. Before this, she attended the sister nursery Great and Small Kindergarten one day per week. Once she reached the age of three I asked if she could go onto the Forest School. She is buzzing to go every
Friday morning whether it's sunny, raining or snowing! She learns so much about life and the outdoors whilst she is there as well as the education side. She loves her peers there and she is well looked after. I receive a great report every week on the app, including pictures which are 10/10 from a parenting point of view. Yes, she comes home muddy and sometimes, a bit wet but these are her best days! A little mud doesn't hurt anyone!
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. Yes your daughter certainly does enjoy herself with us and is a joy to be with, watching her development and growth. She enjoys being able to have extra wraparound care at…read more
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Review from Michael L (Father of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has been going to Great and Small Forest School once a week for over a year and he absolutely loves it! We live about 45 minutes drive away from the school but the commute is totally worth it as he has so much fun, gets to play with his friends, learn about nature and he's learnt loads of valuable
new skills in a safe environment. His self-confidence has increased a lot and he's very comfortable being outside in nature and thinks nothing of being cold, wet or covered in mud (he likes to jump in muddy puddles!), he's learnt to just get on with things. The staff have been fantastic and always provide a fun and nurturing environment for our little man to learn new life skills and enjoy himself in the great outdoors. I can't recommend them enough, it's a great place to send your kids and a fantastic alternative to traditional pre-school settings. When our daughter is old enough, she'll be going too.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. We are privileged that you drive that distance for your son to come to our forest school. It's wonderful watching him grow and develop and make lovely friendships too.…read more
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Review from Jennifer B (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter is currently attending and loves it! She has learnt so much, developed skills and most importantly spent so much time outdoors. She has thrived in the outdoor setting, cooking lunch on the fire, making crafts from things found in the woods and making friends. She is always asking if it
is a Forest School day, she comes home absolutely filthy with a huge smile on her face, telling us all about the mudslide, tyre swing and the stream. Her interest in the outdoors has grown so much, getting her to come inside is now a challenge! I can’t recommend it enough! We will definitely be looking at school holiday sessions in the future.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. It is wonderful to see your daughter's smile and laughter as she gets thoroughly stuck into the outdoor play. It's really important to us to develop children's connection…read more
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Review from Rebbecca P (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son (six) has been attending Great and Small Forest School for over a year now and he really enjoys his time there. Even on the coldest, wettest days, he still looks forward to going and he always has a smile on his face when I pick him up. The forest school leaders are amazing and have really taken
the time to get to know my son. Their approach to teaching and learning is child-led and gentle. I would highly recommend Great and Small for anyone looking for a real forest school experience for their child.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. Our ethos is such that we encourage a child-led and interest-led, play-based approach which we will, and lots of research and theory supports, is a really beneficial way to…read more
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Review from Claire W (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Absolutely outstanding forest school, my son loves coming here to play with his friends and get very muddy. The staff are very nurturing and totally understand the children's needs and listen to them and follow their interests. My son always comes back exhausted with a massive smile on his face. When
asked what he has done he always tells me everything. They also offer a weekly storytime via zoom which has become a weekly staple in our home and missed when it's not on during the half terms. My son's confidence has been developed massively and his love of the outdoors strengthens. It's a shame he going to school in September as he will miss his outdoor adventures with the staff. If you are looking for your child to learn and be nurtured whilst being in the great outdoors then look no further. Highly recommend.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. We all certainly do love to play and explore in the great outdoors which is so beneficial in so many aspects across not only the early years curriculum (and beyond) but for…read more
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Review from Zoe S (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter attends the Forest School and she absolutely loves it. Not only are the staff wonderful and hard working they are fabulous with the children. They facilitate learning through a hands-on approach and the children are able to experiment with real tools and practice ‘bush skills’. I wanted
my daughter to be able to experience nature and to take ‘risks’ that would allow her to work through and assess the danger through problem-solving. The Forest School supports this beautifully and allows her to take on challenges safely. I watched her grow in confidence and I can’t recommend the forest school enough.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. Helping children to develop their own sense of danger and risk assessment is a big part of our practice as this really does develop a children's sense of self-esteem and…read more
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Review from Lucy S (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
It is my pleasure to write a review for this setting. My boy does not like change at all and yet he settled from his first day/taster session to this uniquely wonderful setting, which speaks volumes in itself. All of the staff at both the Forest School and Kindergarten settings truly are experts in
their fields. The care, support and education from the dedicated practitioners is unbelievable which is evidenced by how fondly my boy talks about them and trusts them. Communication is excellent along with the support provided. As a teacher myself, I am amazed by the broad and varied learning opportunities which will become life-long skills. The confidence and abilities that my child has developed since he first started have surpassed all of my expectations. Don't let the winter months put you off either, thermals and extra layers work wonders. I would urge all parents to send their children here. In my opinion, it is the best setting in the area (and wider surroundings) for sure.
Reply from Victoria Cocken, Owner at Great and Small Forest School
Thank you for your review. Coming from a fellow teacher who appreciates the learning opportunities that our settings present and how these beneficially impact children not just educationally but as…read more
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Current Review Score: 8.8 (8.750)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.8 (8.750) out of 10 for Great and Small Forest School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 2 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.8 out of 5 from 2 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 5.000 for Great and Small Forest School is calculated as follows: ( (23 Excellents x 5) ) ÷ 23 Ratings = 5
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 3.75 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Great and Small Forest School is based on 2 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 = 3.125
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 16 number of registered child places is 3.2. 2 Positive Reviews ÷ 3.2 = 0.625
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Great and Small Forest School

What is the Age Range of Children that Great and Small Forest School accepts?

Great and Small Forest School accepts Children aged from 3 years 0 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Great and Small Forest School Open?

Great and Small Forest School is open: Monday 09:00-15:00, Tuesday 09:00-15:00, Wednesday 09:00-15:00, Thursday 09:00-15:00, Friday 09:00-15:00.

How many Children does Great and Small Forest School have capacity for?

Great and Small Forest School has capacity for a total of 16 Children.

How far is Great and Small Forest School to the centre of Accrington?

2.3 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Great and Small Forest School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Great and Small Forest School has an Basic Service - more info.