Little Barn Owls has continued its growth in the Horsham community with the opening of a new Reggio-inspired nursery on the grounds of Bohunt Horsham.
The award-winning nursery group, which already has established settings in Faygate, West Grinstead, Southwater and Crawley, expanded further in 2025 with a new nursery in Midhurst. The Bohunt Horsham site now becomes its sixth setting, providing early years education for children aged 0–5.
Little Barn Owls is also part of a wider educational vision and is connected to Atelier 21 in Crawley, the UK’s first Reggio Emilia-inspired, inquiry-based Future School for children aged 4–16 years old, reflecting the group’s commitment to a continuous, child-centred learning journey from early years through to secondary education.
Charlotte Bateman, Managing Director of Little Barn Owls said:
“We’re proud to be opening Little Barn Owls on the Bohunt Horsham site, creating a place where early learning is taken seriously, without ever losing its joy. Our settings represent our belief that the earliest years matter most – and it’s another exciting step forward for our nursery and the
wider community.”
Inspired by the internationally recognised Reggio Emilia approach, Little Barn Owls encourages children to learn through play, exploration and curiosity. Across its nurseries, the group focuses on creativity, relationships and hands-on experiences, helping children develop confidence and a lifelong love of learning.
Georgette Ayling, Headteacher at Bohunt Horsham said:
“We are genuinely delighted that Little Barn Owls will be opening a branch on our site and excited by the opportunities this will bring for our wider school community. The ethos of Bohunt Education Trust aligns beautifully with Little Barn Owls Nursery, particularly our shared commitment to outdoor learning and the sense of awe and wonder it inspires in children. Together, we place great value on nurturing curiosity, resilience and a deep connection with the natural world, and we very much look forward to working together.”
The new nursery also features forest and farm school provision, with animals to be introduced in the coming months, offering children rich opportunities to explore the natural world and learn outdoors.
For those interested in visiting, the Little Barn Owls team can be contacted on 01403 916505 or via admissions@littlebarnowls.co.uk
About Little Barn Owls Forest & Farm School Nurseries
Little Barn Owls is an award-winning nursery inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, a well regarded early years philosophy from Northern Italy that encourages children to learn through play, exploration and curiosity. The approach places strong importance on creativity, relationships and hands-on experiences, helping children to develop confidence and a love of learning from an early age.
This inspiration is reflected across Little Barn Owls nurseries in Horsham, Crawley and Midhurst, through welcoming learning environments, as well as forest and farm school settings that allow children to explore the natural world, care for animals and learn outdoors. By following children’s interests and providing rich, real-life experiences, Little Barn Owls supports each child to learn and develop at their own pace.
