Forest School Sessions
Forest school is a long term education process whereby children and young people can develop social, emotional and practical skills as well as foster a greater appreciation and love for nature through free play, curiosity and exploration in the woods.
Find out more about the forest school ethos
here
The Forest School process puts great emphasis on being learner led which means that although we as practitioners will always have activities and ideas up our sleeves our main role is to nurture, inspire and encourage children to follow their own interests and curiosities. We go by the principle that education is more about asking the right questions than giving the right answers and we believe there is so much to be learned simply through being immersed in nature and having freedom and autonomy to explore it. A typical session might include things like den building, imaginative play, natural arts and crafts, firemaking, using tools and much much more. scroll down to see how you can get involved.
Parent/Guardian & Toddler Group
Home Ed Family Group
Mixed Age Family Group
Wildlings
Home Ed Drop Off Group (ages 6 - 12)
"Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul."
Hatchlings
Ages 1 - 5, and their parent/carer
(younger non-walking siblings welcome free of charge)
Every Tuesday and Wednesday 10am - 12pm
🌸 Adventure play
🌸 Arts and crafts
🌸 Using tools
🌸 Making music
🌸 Jumping in puddles
🌸 Hunting for minibeasts
🌸 Creating in the mud kitchen
These are just a few of the things you and your child could get up to in our Hatchlings group.
A relaxed weekly session for children and adults to socialise and explore in a beautiful woodland setting aimed at increasing wellbeing. Watch your child explore, make new friends, grow in confidence and independence whilst learning new skills. Time in nature is good for us all, so this will be a treat to yourself too.
The session will include:
☕️Free teas and coffees for adults (milk provided is vegan)
🔥Hot chocolate and a snack around the campfire
*If price is a barrier for you, please get in contact and we can discuss options*
Fledglings
Ages 0 - 12
Wednesday 1pm - 3pm
For home educated children, their younger siblings and parents/guardians and children who attend a nursery setting in the morning.
A long-term family oriented weekly session where children of all ages and adults can enjoy and explore the woodland together. A learner led group with moments of coming together for drinks and snacks around the fire as well as optional seasonal activities such as arts and crafts, minibeast hunting, den making, firelighting and much much more.
*If price is a barrier for you, please get in contact and we can discuss options*
Wildlings
Ages 6-12
Full day sessions - Every Thursday 9:30am- 14.30 am
For children who are happy to spend the day with us unaccompanied. A daylong session which provides a safe wild space for your child to explore, learn and grow in the way that suits them.
The longer duration of this group provides an opportunity to really settle into the woods and get stuck in. This means children have the freedom to take their learning where they want to, whether that be climbing trees, following animal tracks, searching for minibeasts, making new friendships, building dens, learning a new skill, using tools or learning bushcraft.
*If price is a barrier for you, please get in contact and we can discuss options*
Full day - THIS SESSION IS NOT CURRENTLY RUNNING
(contact us to be placed on the waiting list)
Family Forest Day
For the whole family, children aged 0-13.
The first weekend of each month.
A family oriented session where children of all ages and adults can enjoy and explore the woodland together.
Kindlings
Every Friday 10am- 2 pm
ages 12 - 16
For young people who are happy to spend the morning with us unaccompanied. A 4 hour session which provides a safe wild space to explore, learn and grow in the way that suits them.
Young people will have the freedom to take their learning where they want to, whether that be:
🌸Climbing trees
🌸Following animal tracks
🌸Studying the natural world
🌸Making new friendships
🌸Building dens
🌸Learning a new skill
🌸Using tools or
🌸Learning bushcraft
We will also provide the opportunity for those who want to to work through our Wild Blossom skills passport or the John Muir award which offer opportunities to deepen learning and engagement to the natural world and practice environmental stewardship,
You child's safety is our primary concern. The forest school ethos recognises that an important part of learning and development is allowing children the opportunity to assess risk for themselves but that doesn't mean we will not be keeping them safe. We work with the principle of 'dynamic risk assessment' meaning we are always on our toes making sure the risks of any activity or play never outweigh the benefits. We will always ensure everyone has understood the safety guidelines and we will work with children to find the right way to navigate any challenges that might arise with safety, or behaviour.
We are both fully DBS checked, we hold Safeguarding level 3 training, Outdoor first aid training and we both have many years experience and additional qualifications to work with challenging behaviour and de-escalation techniques.
Any volunteers or support workers on our sessions will always be DBS checked and safeguarding trained.
**Full policies and procedures are available upon request**
"Children need nature for the healthy development of their senses and therefore for learning and creativity."
Richard Louv