Forest Schools offer a creative approach to outdoor learning and play. Taking place in an inspiring woodland environment, children participate in fun and engaging tasks that improve their motivation and self-esteem and develop their social and emotional skills.
Through regular play in the woodland, children get to experience the natural environment, handle risks, solve problems and work with others, all using their own initiative. It helps them learn to use tools, play safely and learn boundaries whilst encouraging self-confidence and independence.
Our Forest School provides children with a once a week session over a period of seven weeks. Sessions last between 1 ½ and 2 ½ hours.
The first six sessions take place at our newly created, on-site Forest School which features mud kitchens, den making equipment and even a fire pit where children can sit in a circle, tell stories and enjoy toasted marshmallows!
The final session is a trip to Brockholes Nature Reserve where children can test the skills they’ve learnt in a new forest environment.
Activities include:
The Little Rascals Forest School operates on a seven week rolling programme. When one programme ends, a new one will begin.
To give more children the opportunity to participate, each new programme will take place on a different day of the week. For example, if the current programme takes place every Tuesday, the following programme will take place every Wednesday and the one after that every Thursday.
The safety of the children in our care is our highest priority and we have followed every guideline and best practice to make our Forest School safe for all who take part. This includes high-level risk assessments and the installation of specialist equipment. Our Forest School leader is also qualified in Level 3 Forest School Programme Leadership.
Little Rascals will provide all children with waterproof jackets and trousers should they be needed. However, children will need suitable clothing and footwear for the time of year. Wellies are ideal for wearing in wet and muddy conditions.
The Forest School is open to all children aged 3 or above who currently attend Little Rascals Nursery.
The cost for attending the Little Rascals Forest School is included in the regular day rate, so no additional payment is required. However, your child will need to be booked into the nursery on the days it is run.
Signing your child up for the Forest School couldn’t be simpler, just speak to a member of staff at Little Rascals, call us on 01772 789 419 or complete the form below.
NB. A consent form will be required for the visit to Brockholes Nature Reserve.
We were last inspected in April 2019 and maintained ‘Good’, which is excellent news for us.
Download our report, to see what the inspector said about our nursery.