Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Manor Road, Ash, Aldershot GU12 6QH
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Top 20 award
10 102 Reviews
  • Friends Forest Nursery - Ash, Aldershot
Friends Forest Nursery Ash is a nursery with a difference. Situated in the Surrey Hills, this Forest School Nursery inspires children with a hands-on approach to learning both indoors and out.

At Forest School, children will be encouraged to discover, explore, observe and question what they find in their outdoor environment by: making dens; exploring tracks; using simple hand tools to make wooden objects; creating art; playing and climbing; finding and identifying wildlife; creating and following maps; enjoying stories and songs… in all weather and in all seasons.

The staff team work with parents to ensure children develop socially, intellectually, culturally, physically and emotionally in a caring and secure environment.

Back in the classroom, the nursery's philosophy is that every child they care for deserves a calm, caring, safe and stimulating environment in which to learn.



The nursery offers children nutritionally-balanced, home-cooked meals.

Children also take part in a range of extra curricular activities which promote your child’s well-being and confidence.

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Care Provided by Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Danielle Brennan (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 18
  • Total Places for Children
  • 45
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

  • Please contact us for a copy of our current fees or for any information on funding.

Friends Forest Nursery - Ash Reviews (102)

Total of 102, showing 61-80
10

Friends Forest Nursery - Ash has a Review Score of 10 (9.979) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Friends Forest Nursery - Ash has 102 reviews.

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Review from Kelly R (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little girl has been going since she was 14-months-old and she absolutely loves it!
The staff are amazing and so friendly. They play outside all the time, which I love and so does she! It’s just a lovely environment for your child to grow up and learn in.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your great review. We are thrilled to hear how much your daughter enjoys her time with us, especially our outdoor space and activities we have.


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Review from Annemarie R (Mother of Child) published on 9 July 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since my son began here in January, the whole team have been so supportive, and my son loves going. He even gets excited when he is in the car and can see we have arrived.
He is such an outdoor child, and the environment here is perfect for him. All the team here are so friendly and really show they
care for all the children they look after. I know he is really happy when he is there, and always comes out with a big smile on his face.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so pleased to hear how much your son enjoys his time with us.


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Review from Kitty W (Mother of Child) published on 8 July 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has attended the nursery since he was 18-months, and now he is three and moving on to the preschool. I have no doubt that I will be sending my 1-year-old there very soon. The staff are amazing with the children. My son knows all of them. I like how they all work together and has such a friendly
happy atmosphere. My sons love it. Forest school they get to spend time outside. Throughout this difficult time, the staff has been very responsive and helping us to get the children returning back to the nursery. We would highly recommend the nursery to others.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your kind review. We are so pleased to hear your positive experience at our nursery.


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Review from Marlena I (Mother of Child) published on 8 July 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have overall been very satisfied with this nursery. The staff are caring and easy-going regarding parents requests. The kids seem to be very close to their caregivers, and that is very important. The management has been so very flexible, good at communicating, and no surprises on anything - good consistent
care of our son.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so pleased to hear how your son is enjoying nursery.


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Review from Minna M (Mother of Child) published on 29 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Friends Forest Nursery have been fantastic from day one, but have been particularly brilliant this last month with everyone returning from lockdown. Nothing is too much trouble and the lovely staff are even good at comforting parents! My daughter loves coming here to "little school" and learns things
without even realising it by having fun with her friends. We've even stolen the forest walk idea to use as a family at the weekends. It's all great preparation for "big school" in September.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your kind review. We are so pleased to hear how your daughter is loving her time at nursery.


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Review from Stacey E (Mother of Child) published on 29 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children have attended Friends since they were 10 months old (now 2 and 4). It is a brilliant nursery, wonderfully friendly, lovely supportive staff and they have been so understanding with issues and helping to support my children. They spend so much time outside and discovering the great outdoors.
I would thoroughly recommend and will be incredibly sad when my youngest goes off to school.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your kind review. We are so pleased to hear how both of your children have developed and enjoyed their time with us.


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Review from Francesca P (Mother of Child) published on 24 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I first started sending my children to Friends in Ash in 2016 and still have a 2-year-old attending. I chose Friends as their focus on being outdoors and the cosy, intimate nature of the care. I have been very happy with the nursery overall. My kids have learnt a lot and the close bonds they form with
staff reassure me they are well cared for. My 5-year-old was independent and well prepared for school and supported through the arrival of her baby brother. My two-year-old is learning numbers and has a great vocabulary. Activities are designed to stimulate and engage the children, with a good balance of indoor messy play and outdoor adventures, all with a focus on development and learning. The food is top-notch and enjoyed by staff and kids alike. I also commend their flexibility - either when transitioning between age groups, or on days of attendance. With re-opening after lockdown, my 2-year-old just could not wait to get back and see the staff and his friends! Highly recommended.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your kind review. We are so pleased to hear how your children have enjoyed nursery, especially our delicious meals.


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Review from Nigel L (Father of Child) published on 24 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son attends Friends Nursery and has been for the last year, he is the happiest, confident and funny little boy and loves walking into the nursery.
I was a little anxious putting him into a setting but Friends has really met every expectation and more. The management team and the team in the rooms
are great, all attentive and genuinely adore all the children that walk through the door.
The food is fantastic, such a variety of healthy and delicious meals offered to the children.
The children are so happy and content, whenever I walk into the setting they are happy and playing with their peers or engaging with the staff. The activities are always so inviting – I could have easily been late for work wanting to join in!

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so pleased to hear how your son is enjoying nursery, especially our delicious meals.


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Review from Chiara S (Mother of Child) published on 24 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at Friends Forest in January 2020. At 11 months old I was a little worried that he was too young and felt quite uneasy being away from him but I needed to work and therefore Friends Forest was a perfect solution!
The staff are all so lovely and caring towards my son that I instantly
felt at ease. He loves going to nursery and seeing all of his friends!
My son's development has come on leaps and bounds since he has been at the nursery and he comes home every week with a new little trick to show off.
The meals at the nursery are fantastic, they are very flexible and accommodating to what I as the parent want for my child. Nothing is too much trouble at all.
The activities the staff set up for the children are varied each day and the outdoor area is lovely. They go above and beyond to ensure the children get out of the nursery each day.
Thank you to everyone at Friends Forest for making such a daunting process for me an amazing experience.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so pleased to hear how your children are enjoying nursery.


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Review from Joanna C (Mother of Child) published on 22 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We feel very fortunate to have stumbled across Friends Forest when doing an online search for local nurseries!
Our daughter is settled and happy. She looks forward to every day at nursery and her smiling, excited face as she disappears through the door, is testament to the hard work that the staff
at the nursery put in. She enjoys playing in the large garden and the strong emphasis that the nursery puts on being outdoors really suits her. There are different activities and opportunities for children every day. The food is also excellent and varied.
Having returned to the nursery after the lockdown closure, we are really impressed by the steps that the nursery has implemented whilst managing to keep a loving and caring environment.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so pleased to hear how your daughter is enjoying nursery, especially the yummy food we provide.


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Review from C W (Mother of Child) published on 22 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I can’t say enough good things about Friends Forest (Ash)! My son has been attending for almost a year and my daughter started in February 2020.
My son absolutely loves going and always comes home full of stories about what he’s been doing that day! He especially enjoys playing in the huge outdoor
space and loves the Forest School garden.
My daughter had only just finished her settling in period before lockdown started and I was quite anxious about her starting back but I needn’t have been; the staff have all been amazing and within a couple of weeks she was happily walking in at drop off without so much as a backwards glance.
On the subject of staff: each and every one of them is incredible! They are so friendly and always know what your child has been doing that day - even if they aren’t their key worker. Nothing feels like too much for them and they have dealt with the post-lockdown reopening of the nursery amazingly so a big thank you to the manager and the whole team!

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so pleased to hear how your children are enjoying nursery, especially the outdoor space we have.


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Review from L S (Mother of Child) published on 12 June 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son had just settled in before the lockdown, he loves the staff and is always excited the moment we leave the house. Activities vary and lots to do. Throughout lockdown, he would ask to go and when I finally said he was going back to “school” as he calls it, he was so excited. A different boy. Since
returning, I have been very impressed and amazed how this fantastic team are dealing with this situation and how different my son has become since returning and he loves washing his hands. The variety of activities is exceptional from forest school to storytime. His speech and language have really developed and come on leaps and bounds since starting in January. But his social interaction is getting better each week he is going.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so pleased to hear how much your son enjoys nursery and all of the activities.


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Review from T D (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very friendly team. Easy to engage with and approachable. Handovers at the end of the day are summarised and informative. The team have made my son settle very well into pre-school, with their enthusiasm.

Reply from The Staff Team, Manager at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your kind review. We are so thrilled to hear how well your son has settled and transitioned into preschool.


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Review from M L (Mother of Child) published on 20 February 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little girl started Friends Forest Nursery this month. I viewed many nurseries in the area but Friends Forest was the best by far. The team are dedicated, passionate and go above and beyond to make myself and little girl feel welcome. Children always seem happy when arriving and leaving the setting.
I love walking into the smell of delicious food being cooked for the children. The manager is always available and answers any questions asked, she is attentive and very proud of her nursery and team.

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Review from Katie (Mother of Child) published on 3 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy has been coming to Friends Forest Nursery since he was 9 months old. The care and general wellbeing each member of staff has for him is really comforting. Every time we pull up in the carpark he gets excited and can't wait to get through the door! The range of activities they do is brilliant
and the food is always a big hit with him! The staff and I have worked together closely with my son's progression into a toddler. Friendly staff and very warm and approachable environment.

Reply from The Staff Team at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so pleased to hear how your little boy loves coming to nursery and enjoys the range of activities we have.


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Review from Helen H (Mother of Child) published on 31 January 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at Friends when he was 7 months old and he settled in beautifully. He is so happy there and the staff are so friendly and warm towards him. The activities on offer are always exciting and varied and he even gets to spend some time in the Forest school. We are really happy with our choice
to send our son to Friends and he is so excited when we arrive there in the morning!

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Review from S C (Grandmother of Child) published on 20 November 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My grandson attends Friends Nursery. He is the most confident, happy, little explorer I know. You can tell the staff and management have the passion, the moment you walk into the nursery it's a warm and inviting nursery.
Activities are beautiful, food looks delicious, staff are amazing and duty of
care is outstanding.
Every staff member knows every child's name and every parent that walks through the door.
It is a family, Friends family.

Reply from The Staff Team at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are absolutely delighted to hear how happy you are with all aspects of the nursery and that your grandson is such a confident and happy explorer.


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Review from K G (Mother of Child) published on 25 October 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son loves going to this nursery. He's always excited to go in each morning. The activities are really varied and it's great how they are led by the various interests of the children.

Reply from The Staff Team at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your fantastic review. We are thrilled to hear how pleased you are with the Nursery and how much your son enjoys attending.


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Review from N M (Mother of Child) published on 25 October 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I couldn't be happier with the care that my child receives at Forest Friends. All of the staff are friendly and there are always lots of different themed activities and learning opportunities on offer.
I love the onsite kitchen and chef, knowing that my child is fed fresh, healthy home-cooked food
is one less worry on my mind.

Reply from The Staff Team at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your wonderful review. We are so happy to hear how pleased you are with the staff, the care your child receives, and the wide range of learning opportunities provided. We are also thrilled to hear how happy you are with the food provided at Nursery.


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Review from Ben B (Father of Child) published on 25 October 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Always nice to drop our son off at Friends Forest. Staff are attentive and helpful, so even if our son isn't 'feeling it today' we never worry about leaving him.

Reply from The Staff Team at Friends Forest Nursery - Ash

Thank you for your kind review. We are absolutely delighted to hear how attentive and helpful the staff team are and how confident you are in their care of your son.


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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.979)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.979) out of 10 for Friends Forest Nursery - Ash is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 12 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 12 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:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.979 for Friends Forest Nursery - Ash is calculated as follows: ( (141 Excellents x 5) + (3 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 144 Ratings = 4.979

  • b) 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Friends Forest Nursery - Ash is based on 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 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 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 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 45 number of registered child places is 9, which has been reached with 12 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • 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

Awards / Recognitions (8)

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Meet the Team (2)

Danielle

Danielle Brennan

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2022

Danielle has been the manager of Friends since 2024, she has a level 3 in childcare.


Jaycee

Jaycee Taylor

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2022

Jaycee has been the deputy manager since June 2024, she has been at friends since 2022.


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