Open Days Saturday 16th May!
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Small People

Small People

A nurturing and creative environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to learn through play

Mon - Fri: 07:30 - 17:45
Age: 0 - 60 months
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Open Day: Sat 16 May
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We’re here for you Mon - Fri: 07:00 - 18:30

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About Small People

  • Small People is an OFSTED GOOD (2025) nursery in Cropwell Bishop, on Colston Road at Robin House. Our 100% outdoor nursery follows Forest School principles across a full acre for children aged 0 to 5 years, with strong safeguarding and nurturing care that helps every child feel secure amid nature's embrace. We emphasise back-to-basics play for confident thriving.

  • Our natural wooden toys and holistic learning immerse children in seasonal wonders alongside healthy eating. Our passionate team guides exploration with warmth and deep nature connection.

  • Our expansive field features animal areas where children care for our pig and chickens, plus main and baby gardens perfect for mud pies and discovery. Forest School sessions add magical depth.

  • ​Is Small People the wild, nature-immersed adventure where your child truly shines? Book a tour today and roam our living acre.

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Nursery Facilities

Discover the facilities available at our nursery and how they support your child's care, learning, and development.

Onsite Parking

Onsite Parking

Convenient parking on site so you can drop off and collect your child without the stress of finding a space nearby.

Our Nursery Fees

We understand how important it is to have a clear picture of the costs associated with your child's care. Our fee sheet is designed to be transparent and straightforward, so please click below and take your time to look through it.

You can also learn more about fees and funding options on our dedicated pages Fees and funding page

If you have any questions at all, please do get in touch. We are always happy to talk things through with you.

Nutritional Approach

We believe food is fundamental to healthy growth, happy minds, and positive lifelong habits. In the earliest years, what children eat shapes taste preferences, supports brain development, and lays the foundations for long-term health.

All meals are freshly prepared on site each day using quality, seasonal ingredients. Our menus are developed with expert guidance, designed for inclusion, and go beyond Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. We want every child to become a confident, curious eater.

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Meet Our Nursery Manager

Stacey Shevlane

My journey in childcare began 13 years ago as an apprentice, and it has been the most rewarding adventure of my life. Over the years, I have grown from an educator to a Preschool Lead, and now, into my role as Manager in 2025. While my titles have changed, my heart remains exactly where it started: with the children.

There is nothing more fulfilling than watching a child blossom into a curious, independent learner. I feel so lucky to be a part of their story and to support my team as we all develop and succeed together. Working with children isn't just my career—it’s my passion, and I enjoy every single moment of it.

What to Expect on Your Nursery Tour

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Open Day photo
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Our Next Open Day

Saturday 16th of May:9am-1pm

Meet our friendly team

Meet our friendly team

Learn about our curriculum

Learn about our curriculum

Explore funding options

Explore funding options

Explore our rooms and areas

Explore our rooms and areas

Our Commitments

Our curriculum is built around five core commitments that guide how we nurture every child.

Critical And Creative Thinkers

Nurturing curiosity and confidence to imagine, test ideas, and solve problems through exploration.

Sense of Belonging

Building secure, trusting relationships so every child feels safe, valued, and confident.

Explorers of Our World

Connecting children to nature through outdoor experiences that build resilience and independence.

Confident Communicators

Supporting every child to express themselves in ways that are meaningful to them.

Happy and Healthy

Encouraging physical activity, healthy eating, and joyful experiences that support lifelong wellbeing.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum focuses on three key areas: confident communicators, resilient resolvers and independent investigators.

These are the steps we take to ensure that when children eventually leave, they have the skills ready for life and are well prepared for their future learning journey.

What Parents Say About Us

8.9

Review Score for Review Score for Family First Day Nursery

30 reviews


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March 30, 2026

Review of Small People

Our son always looks forward to those days when he will be meeting his friends at Small People Nursery - and he always includes some of the helpers in that group. Communication has improved to us, as parents, and we are pleased that our son remained at Small People as opposed to taking the offered place at our local school. Good work!

P D

March 23, 2026

Review of Small People

My son absolutely loved Small People Nursery. I was so nervous at first, but it's truly like no other. The focus on outdoor play is amazing, and he was always happy at drop-off and collection. I'd 100% recommend, especially if you're feeling a little unsure.

S G

April 2, 2025

Review of Small People

Amazing. My daughter has been since she was 6 months old and we couldn't be happier. There have been some staff changes, but the new faces still greet us with smiles and care. The facilities are excellent, but the staff are phenomenal.

J S

April 1, 2025

Review of Small People

Our son has been at Small People for two and a half years and in this time we have seen his development come on immensely. He continues to learn new things, both socially and independently. The staff are all very open and friendly. We feel that the outdoor basis of the nursery offers a fantastic environment for children's development and our son loves to be outside all of the time.

C M

March 25, 2025

Review of Small People

Small People is a lovely welcoming nursery. My son has thrived in the outdoor environment and loves his days in the setting whatever the weather! We are sad that he will be leaving this year for school! Our daughter will be starting at the end of the year and we know she will enjoy it just as much!

L F

March 25, 2025

Review of Small People

Such a lovely atmosphere! Staff are so friendly and welcoming. The areas are engaging and encourage independent play. It is clear my child feels safe and happy in the setting. Communication has been great and my child settled really quickly into the nursery.

C T

February 9, 2025

Review of Small People

We are so grateful for our experience at Small People Nursery and we can't recommend it enough! We knew we had found the right setting for our children when our oldest started at Small People at 1 year old. The caring, outdoor-focused environment was exactly what we were looking for and it gave us complete peace of mind. When it was time for our youngest, we didn't hesitate to send her at just 3 months old. From the start, Small People has been a place where they could grow, explore and thrive in such a supportive, nature-filled space. We feel that Small People set our older child up for success at school by fostering independence, social skills and a love of learning, making her transition to school easy. The food at Small People is truly outstanding. It's so reassuring to see the nursery prioritise good nutrition while introducing the children to a variety of flavours. The fact that the food is homemade with love really adds to the overall wonderful experience at Small People.

Emily B

April 11, 2024

Review of Small People

The staff at Small People have been nothing but supportive, welcoming and inclusive. My son has made such amazing progress since joining the nursery over a year ago and I will be forever grateful for their open arms. The outdoor setting and environment created allow the children to thrive and succeed and as a result, my little boy is happy which is most important. Thank you for all you do, you are amazing!

C M

March 27, 2024

Review of Small People

An excellent setting for our daughter to learn about life. As a fully outdoor nursery, the fun never stops no matter the weather. Excellent staff and activities really setting our child up for the future. Keep up the good work.

S R

March 27, 2024

Review of Small People

Small People is a great outdoor nursery that has helped my little girl flourish from her starting at 5 months old. The staff are so caring and we are viewed as a second family by my little one who gets so excited to attend every day she is in. Thanks to the nursery, she also loves lots of different foods due to the great meals that are prepared for her daily. Would definitely recommend the setting to anyone for their little ones too.

Charlie S

March 23, 2024

Review of Small People

I have now had all 3 of my children attend Small People (one of them who is now is 7), and honestly could not think of a better place or group of people to entrust my little ones to. The care, attention, activities, setting, management, parent communication can not be faulted. Love it!

Charlotte K

March 22, 2024

Review of Small People

An outstanding setting for outdoor loving children. Staff are well trained and dedicated and it shines through. Our little boy has been at nursery for 3 years and he is very happy, especially when he can play with mud! As parents, we are assured about the safety and necessary procedures. This is a truly happy place.

L R

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

My child is enjoying his time at Small People. He comes home worn out and covered in mud and paint, which I hear is only a good thing! My child has lots of stories to tell about his time here and tells us all about the other children and nursery leaders.

H R

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

Our experience with Small People has overall been very positive. We really do feel our son has benefitted from the outdoor learning. He comes home muddy but very happy.

J M

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

Small People is a great setting, my little boy loves all the outdoor activities and my daughter will start soon. The children all seem so happy at collection and drop-off. My son has already made some friends for life. The staff are all excellent!

R M

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

We've placed all 3 of our children at Small People and couldn't be happier with our decision. From starting in the baby group to getting ready to start school, the environment is nurturing, healthy and happy with daily exploration and fun outdoors. We respect the emphasis placed on great quality food, nature and creativity at each stage of their development.

M H

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

We absolutely love Small People and the care they provide all the children is above and beyond. Our daughter is beyond happy here and she looks at the staff as extended family. Our daughter has developed incredibly since joining small people and we are so proud of the person she's becoming with the influence of Small People. The food, care, activities and environment as a whole is more than we could wish for! Thank you to all the team at Small People.

Katie T

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

The staff at Small People are fantastic and I personally have had 0 issues. My little one is always excited and full of joy whenever she attends. I love that everything is outdoors and the early education is evident in her strong development. Myself and her mother wholeheartedly recommend the nursery.

Richard H

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

Fantastic nursery, both my children attend this setting and as parents, we could not be happier. The children are so happy and have flourished at this nursery. From a development perspective, we are so impressed with how much they learn.

C R

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

My child has settled in well. She enjoys all of the activities she joins in with. Communication with Small People is great, I get lots of information through the website. This includes her meals, toilet and photos throughout the day. In addition to this, we get a weekly run down of activities. There are loads of fun activities for my child, including country theme days. She has learnt loads about numbers and the alphabet. The fact all of this is outside is wonderful.

K H

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

We have had a fantastic experience sending our 1-year-old to Small People. The staff are so friendly, we have great communication from the team and our child always arrives smiling.

Sophie P

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

Our little boy loves nursery so far, he always comes back so happy and all the staff have been amazing at keeping us updated and making sure he's settled in well.

A K

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

Our son started at Small People at the beginning of the year. He quickly settled due to the friendly and engaging atmosphere. The staff go out of their way to make sure no two days are the same. Receiving daily updates and images of our son put us quickly at ease because we saw how much fun he was having. We are so happy to have chosen this nursery as we can already see the benefits it brings regarding development and socialisation. The best aspect in the outdoor setting as our son is learning to appreciate nature and to thrive in all weather conditions. Our son clearly enjoys the culinary cuisine that is provided freshly each day. We are looking forward to many years to come at Small People.

H C

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

Small People is a vibrant environment that my daughter has flourished in. She loves nursery and leaves every day with a smile on their face. The staff are incredible and care for her as I would. They have helped shape her into a wonderful, adventurous child.

Kimberley G

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

Excellent friendly staff, my child has come on leaps and bounds since joining the nursery. He absolutely loves his time at Small People. Staff are brilliant with the children, full of fun and activities. Facilities are second to none.

Mike C

March 20, 2024

Review of Small People

My child settled into Small People so well. She absolutely loves it! I wouldn't want her to be anywhere else! She fondly speaks of all the staff. Also her food sounds amazing.

S H

March 19, 2024

Review of Small People

Both of my children have attended Small People, the care given by all of the staff is second to none, every single one of them genuinely cares about every child in the setting. The outdoor-based space does wonders for both the children's learning and their immune systems! The food is all cooked from scratch on-site and looks amazing. Small People is simply the best nursery in the area, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a place for their child.

Ben W

March 13, 2024

Review of Small People

This is a fantastic setting, one of the best decisions has been to move our child here. He has thrived in this special environment. I do not worry about him from the moment he is dropped off. You know it is the right nursery when they ask to go ok the weekend!

Victoria N

March 12, 2024

Review of Small People

Small People is a wonderful nursery, my son comes home muddy, happy and full of smiles and laughter. The manager and the whole team have been great from day one. We are very lucky to have such a great nursery nearby and have continued to send our son here after moving further away as we think so highly of the nursery and all the team. I wouldn’t send our son anywhere else. Thank you to all the team who take such special care of our little one.

Kate W

December 14, 2018

Review of Small People

This nursery is hands down - the best nursery I have ever seen. And when looking for a place for my child to go (as I was due to start work) I looked at quite a few. The staff, the environment, the food, the day to day care and attention. I simply cannot find a fault. I wish I could attend. You get an app that gives you photo updates and tells you what your child has been up to. I can't tell you how satisfying this is - when you're at work and you just want to see your child's face. I would passionately recommend this nursery to every and anyone. If you live in this area and want the best for your child. Send them here!

Donna L