Forest School

Forest School

With the launch of our brand new and exciting Forest School project, we are now providing Forest School on a full-time basis to our Pre-school children. During their project the children are based full-time in the forest and outdoor spaces, allowing them to truly connect with nature and follow a rich, child-led ethos where children are allowed to play, learn and explore at their own rate and in their own way, with experienced Forest School Educators facilitating and enhancing their learning experiences by encouraging the awe and wonder in their play.

We also provide weekly sessions for children in the nursery where they spend time in the forest each week with the same group of children and following the same ethos and principles as the full-time group. We do this with a wide range of ages, adapting the experiences for all our children.

For example, the baby experience of the forest is going to be very different to that of the toddler or the pre-schooler. They spend lots of time exploring the different terrain and levels that the forest has, developing their balance walking up and down the hill, climbing on logs and exploring the sensory side of the forest; playing with leaves, sticks and the mud. 

As we move into the toddler age the children tend to get a little more adventurous and their curiosity not being stifled will often spend time exploring the smaller things in life; insects! The toddlers love hunting for tiny creatures in the forest, often finding plenty of woodlice and spiders. At this age we also begin to introduce fire in the forest, doing this at an early age instils respect for fire and the need to be safe around it, with the children being in smaller groups in the forest. This allows us to ensure the children remain safe and have a full experience.

Coming into the Pre-school age, more opportunities present themselves as we spend time cooking on the fire, climbing trees and using tools; the Educators in the forest helping the children to understand how these are used safely and effectively to do what the children are trying to achieve.