Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery

11/09/2026

It's beginning to look a lot like yurt season... those venturing into our garden recently will have noticed a big space where our beloved yurt usually stands. It was taken down at the beginning of summer for cleaning, waterproofing and alterations, but now it's back - just in time for the cooler, wetter months.

You may notice a familiar face poking over the top of the yurt... the lovely Karen kindly offered some of their precious retirement time to help us re-erect our shelter. Thank you Karen!

Thank you also to our wonderful families who came to lend a hand with the task - we couldn't have done it without you!

04/09/2026

We were gifted these lovely bunches of rowan berries in a gorgeous variety of colours. Time for threading. Thank you to an ex parent who continues to support our children learn. Lucky us.🍒

19/08/2026

We wish all of our recent graduates a wonderful day as they enter p1 or p2 today. You'll do brilliantly. Keep remembering who you are because you are all amazing, curious and resilient.

17/07/2026

A reminder that applications close on the 19th July. Cvs and cover letters to please go to [email protected]

**We are recruiting Sessional Practitioners.**
This is a flexible role supporting children and key workers in the woods and covering holidays and staff absence. For the right person, permanent opportunities and regular days may become available over time.

About Us 🌿
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery is set within a 25-acre woodland. Our highly regarded philosophy and practice have evolved over the past 17 years and are rooted in our guiding principles: Presence, Nature, Play.
We offer explorative outdoor play and learning 4½ days a week, with practitioners developing a strong, stable presence alongside children in the natural environment.

🐞 Are you someone who...
· Wants to work somewhere with a strong community around you?
· Loves working in a child led environment?
· Is passionate about outdoor education and learning with Nature
as Teacher?
· Communicates respectfully, thoughtfully, and professionally?
· Is SSSC/GTCS registered or willing to study a qualification
recognised by these bodies

🍄 We offer:
· A supportive, established and nurturing workplace
· An inspiring work environment
· Ongoing CPL following initial training
· Staff discount on Keela outdoor clothing
· Staff discount on children’s fees (if your child attends the nursery)
· Paid time to study for SSSC/GTCS required qualifications (1 day
per month subject to approval)

🌳 To find out more and how to apply, please visit our website:
www.secretgardenoutdoor-nursery.co.uk
Deadline for applications end of day 19th July.
Interviews will be Thursday 23rd or Friday 24th July.

08/07/2026

**We are recruiting Sessional Practitioners.**
This is a flexible role supporting children and key workers in the woods and covering holidays and staff absence. For the right person, permanent opportunities and regular days may become available over time.

About Us 🌿
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery is set within a 25-acre woodland. Our highly regarded philosophy and practice have evolved over the past 17 years and are rooted in our guiding principles: Presence, Nature, Play.
We offer explorative outdoor play and learning 4½ days a week, with practitioners developing a strong, stable presence alongside children in the natural environment.

🐞 Are you someone who...
· Wants to work somewhere with a strong community around you?
· Loves working in a child led environment?
· Is passionate about outdoor education and learning with Nature
as Teacher?
· Communicates respectfully, thoughtfully, and professionally?
· Is SSSC/GTCS registered or willing to study a qualification
recognised by these bodies

🍄 We offer:
· A supportive, established and nurturing workplace
· An inspiring work environment
· Ongoing CPL following initial training
· Staff discount on Keela outdoor clothing
· Staff discount on children’s fees (if your child attends the nursery)
· Paid time to study for SSSC/GTCS required qualifications (1 day
per month subject to approval)

🌳 To find out more and how to apply, please visit our website:
www.secretgardenoutdoor-nursery.co.uk
Deadline for applications end of day 19th July.
Interviews will be Thursday 23rd or Friday 24th July.

20/06/2026

**Book recommendations please**
At this time of year, we start to look forward to August, reviewing what has worked well for us this year and thinking of ideas for next year.

A topic very close to our hearts is our wonderful library. We have lots of brilliant books however they have a tough life in the woods and as much as we try to look after them, its time to think about some of them retiring.

Do you have any recommendations for us to support a bit of rejuvenation of our library? We fiercely want to represent our families and to stretch our children to learn appropriately about the world around them. We love books that buck the trend of Princesses getting rescued by Princes and are heartened to see so much more variety these days in what is on offer.

Photo from Vicky during a book investigation trip. 📖📚

05/03/2026

Every day is a book day at the Secret Garden, we really do have a book for every occasion. Today to celebrate World Book Day some of our children brought in their favourites (pictured) which they proudly shared during the day.

The Foxgloves had a Hungry Caterpillar themed day including fruits from the story as extra fruit at snack 🐛🦋

03/02/2026

I had a moment like this today and it changed my outlook on how to support a child. Reflective practice is so important to help both us as practitioners and the children we care for to grow. 🌿

Sometimes I pause in the middle of a busy day and realise something huge:
Families trust us with the weight of their child’s whole world🌎
Their worries.
Their big feelings.
Their imaginations.
Their friendships.
Their growing confidence.
Their tiny triumphs and tiny heartbreaks. 💗

We are trusted with the moments that shape who they are becoming — not just their learning, but their lived experience of childhood.
And that is not a small thing.
It’s sacred.
It’s heavy in the gentlest way. 🫶🏻

It’s a privilege that still catches me off guard sometimes…. Because when a child runs to show me a leaf they’ve found, looks at me for reassurance before trying something brave, or even spontaneously turn and tell me how much they love me when we are rolling play dough…
I’m reminded that this role is so much more than a job. 🥹

We are holding their world while they learn how to hold it themselves. 
And that is the most beautiful responsibility I could imagine. 🌈🫶🏻❤️

02/02/2026

🍂 WE’RE HIRING – Part-Time & Sessional Woods Practitioners 🍂

*Part-time (Permanent):
A 2-day key worker role as part of our established regular team.

*Sessional:
A flexible role supporting children and key workers in the woods and covering holidays and staff absence. For the right person, permanent opportunities and regular days may become available over time.

About Us 🌿
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery is set within a 25-acre woodland. Our highly regarded philosophy and practice have evolved over the past 17 years and are rooted in our guiding principles: Presence, Nature, Play.

We offer explorative outdoor play and learning 4½ days a week, with practitioners developing a strong, stable presence alongside children in the natural environment.

🐞 Are you someone who...
· Wants to work somewhere with a strong community around you?
· Loves working in a child led environment?
· Is passionate about outdoor education and learning with Nature
as Teacher?
· Communicates respectfully, thoughtfully, and professionally?
· Is SSSC/GTCS registered or willing to study a qualification
recognised by these bodies

🍄 We offer:
· A supportive, established and nurturing workplace
· An inspiring work environment
· Ongoing CPL following initial training
· An annual external training allowance (permanent staff)
· Keela waterproofs (permanent staff)
· Staff discount on Keela outdoor clothing
· Staff discount on children’s fees (if your child attends the nursery)
· Annual professional fees (SSSC/GTCS) reimbursed (permanent
staff)
· Paid time to study for SSSC/GTCS required qualifications (1 day
per month subject to approval)

🌳 To find out more and how to apply, please visit our website:
www.secretgardenoutdoor-nursery.co.uk
Deadline for applications Monday 16th February 9am.

12/01/2026

Today some of the children were deeply absorbed in cleaning a fantastic Red Deer skull that a member of staff brought in.

Using water and toothbrushes, the children carefully cleaned, asked many many questions, and pondered about how the deer may have died and the anatomy of the skull.

The skull was also given a Secret Garden chalky make over, which gave it quite the appearance!

What do you think?