We are delighted to announce that our Little Barn Owls Nursery and Farm school, has won the ‘UK Nursery Group of the Year’ and attained a highly commended for ‘Enabling Environments’ at the prestigious Nursery World Awards 2020. This is the second time our forest and farm school nurseries in Horsham, Southwater and Broadbridge Heath, has scooped a Nursery World Award; having also won the much coveted ‘UK Nursery of the Year’ in 2015.

Little Barn Owls was recognised for its unique outdoor learning provision as it fits so well with the required practice during the pandemic. Every nursery has its own private forest school and in Horsham the nursery runs a working farm for 20 animals with a small friendly pig who roams through the gardens with the children alongside quails, rabbits, guinea pigs and lots of wild ducks. The judges were also impressed with the beautiful Reggio Emilia inspired environments and mindful aesthetics of the settings. We employ professional artists, called Atelieristas, at the nurseries who work in dedicated Art studios on projects with children to bring alive their ideas; these have been shared throughout the world and sold as books and DVDs through the group’s Training School for professionals. To support well-being the nurseries also encourage the children to partake in mindfulness and yoga sessions.

Hayley Peacock, Founder of Little Barn Owls comments: “We are absolutely blown away to be the winners of this award it means the world to us. This last year has been really tough but I think we have really shown our worth in providing not only a stunning set of learning environments but also for supporting our staff, families and children through a very difficult time.”