The day

We think carefully about how each day is planned and how we spend our time. Throughout the course of the session your child will participate in the following:

Welcome

Children are welcomed into the forest and supported to follow a morning routine to develop their independence. We begin the morning with circle time around the fire pit. This is an opportunity for children to connect with the team and each other.

Explore & learn

Children are able to freely explore the forest and activities and offer. These will match children’s level of development and aim to extend and enhance their thinking and learning. During this child-led play time, the children are supported by experienced and Forest School trained teachers who help guide and challenge their play and ideas where appropriate.

Teacher led time

Throughout the session we have a number of times that we come together in small groups. These include story telling, circle times focussing Early Years skills such as communication and language as well as developing forest school skills such as woodwork, knotting, den building, whittling and bushcraft. During these adult led times we introduce ideas, concepts and new skills and vocabulary which can then be consolidated and built on through subsequent play and exploration.

Meal times

Meal and snack times are an important part of the day for children developing their independence and social and communication skills. Children have a snack of fruit in the morning and a snack of a healthy carbohydrate in the afternoon. For lunch families are asked to provide a packed lunch. This must ensure it meets the healthy lunch box guidance provided by the nursery.

During the week we may also prepare and cook things together on the fire which are offered to the children as part of learning about healthy eating and the natural environment, for example tasting something that we have grown ourselves.