Buttercup Barn, Balcombe

Buttercup Barn Nursery is situated on the outskirts of the village of Balcombe, near Haywards Heath in West Sussex. The two converted barns compliment the countryside setting in which it stands; boasting picturesque views across working farmland.
Our toddlers room is next to the baby suite and caters for children from 18 months to 3 years. It’s where we encourage our children to become independent explorers.
The larger of the two barns provides a large, fully equipped learning environment for our pre-schoolers, who are aged between 3 and 5 years.
Both barns open out onto our outdoor learning environments, giving a courtyard feel and are equipped with outdoor discovery area climbing apparatus and digging areas.
We also have an on-site forest school with a level three qualified forest school leaders who provide the children an enriched opportunity to explore nature and real life experiences within our forest school.

Our Management Team

Kelly Pearce, Manager

Kelly is a childcare professional with considerable experience in childcare and formal qualifications in early years care and education, and additional needs support. She has been managing nurseries since 2006 and the inspirational manager in Buttercup Barn since 2020.

Sporty and energetic, Kelly is enthusiastic about outdoor play and learning and makes the most of the outdoor setting of the nursery and the wider rural area to turn learning into an outdoor adventure.

Kelly believes in investing children with cultural capital and in meeting individual needs through play, expression and informal learning. As a manager, Kelly is also focused on the training and personal development of staff to enable them to make each child’s day both educational and fun.

Natalie Chrystie, Operations Manager

As the Operations Manager for Childcare And Learning Group, Natalie has responsibility for supporting and developing the nurseries and pre-schools within the group, including Castle Nursery in Shamley Green.

Natalie is a qualified childcare specialist with over 40 years experience working in the childcare industry including many years running individual nurseries for the group. Leading a senior team of three regional managers and a special projects manager, she ensures that nurseries have the facilities, support and training required to meet the group’s own high standards for best practice in childcare. 

“We know that Cranbrook is only as good as the relationship between our staff and our customers (the big ones and the little ones!) and we plan to continue listening and responding to parents’ needs, quickly and effectively.