Forest School

Forest school is an approach to learning that takes children into the great outdoors whatever the weather to explore the natural environment. Forest school is a long-term, nature-based outdoor learning program that focuses on holistic development and growth in children.

Our Forest School sessions take place in the Hackney Marshes where there is a designated base. A sign is visible in this area informing the general public that this space is for our Forest School sessions.We have Forest School trained practitioners within our nursery who lead the sessions and ensure that the children understand how to explore the outdoor environment safely.

All of our children from the age of two take part in Forest School twice a week. Our babies take part in Forest School sessions in the garden in preparation for when they move into the toddler room. The children must wear waterproofs and suitable footwear before attending Forest School and are encouraged to take part in a variety of activities as well as create their own. Each session is two hours long which includes getting changed and walking to the Forest as this is also a time for exploration and learning to take place. 

Children learn through playing in the mud and the hands-on forest school approach gives them plenty of opportunities to do just that. Being child-led, trained practitioners monitor the children but encourage exploration and discovery and support them to take risks.

For children, forest school activities develop confidence, self-esteem, imagination and physical ability as they are allowed to test their limits in the natural world.

In a woodland environment, learning experiences are based on what activities a child wants to engage in at that particular time. Doing this on their own, supervised by a forest school leader, the child builds problem-solving skills, independence, and resilience as they try things out. 

When observing our children in Forest School we have noticed that our children are able to teach themselves to assess problems, make their own decisions about how to solve situations, use a wide range of interesting vocabulary and learn to be self-sufficient through trial and error. 

In Forest School our children take part in climbing trees, making campfires and cooking on an open fire, building shelters and dens, experimenting with tool work such as whittling using pen knives,  tying knots using rope, playing social games, mud painting, using nature for arts and crafts, wildlife and minibeast ventures as well as other exciting activities.

Our Forest School curriculum is extended to our nursery garden and is combined with our free flow and open door policy. The children have specific trees which they are allowed to climb, a mud kitchen for role play and sensory exploration, wooden climbing frames to test their risk-taking and resilience skills.