At Hidden Valley Outdoor Nursery, our ethos is built on a simple belief: children thrive when they have the freedom to explore, question and discover outside, surrounded by nature. Our woodland setting offers rich, real experiences that encourage curiosity, resilience and independence every day.
We follow a child-led, outdoor first philosophy where play, exploration and hands-on activity guide learning. Children climb, build, investigate, collaborate and solve problems in authentic situations, developing practical and social skills that grow naturally from time spent outdoors.
Kindness, respect and emotional wellbeing shape everything we do. We support children to manage risk safely, communicate clearly, care for others and look after the environment they play in. Our role is to guide and encourage, creating space for children to think for themselves and grow confidently at their own pace.
We embrace all weathers, using our warm, secure basecamp for rest and comfort when needed, while the outdoors remains our main classroom. Clear routines and consistent boundaries help children feel safe, grounded and ready to explore.
This ethos sits at the core of how we teach and how we meet the Early Years curriculum outside, which we can explore further on the pages Our Learning Approach and Our Commitment to the Curriculum whenever you are ready.
