Forest School

"Forest school is based more on the process of learning than it is on the content – more on the how than the what. This means that genuine forest school practice steps boldly out of the shadow and limitation of planned activities and ventures collaboratively into the realms of the unplanned, unexpected and ultimately the unlimited. Children and young people are given encouragement to direct their own learning- this often requires catalysing on the part of the forest school leader either through stimulating play in the outdoors or through scaffolding a child's learning, but mostly through simply observing how children are in the outdoors."

At Little Bears Day Nursery and its pre-school, the focus of forest school is firstly, to develop children’s collaborative working skills, self-esteem, confidence and practical skills. Secondly, to make learning practical, fun and enjoyable so that children develop an enthusiastic attitude towards learning whilst scaffolding and extending their experiences, supporting each child with their learning journey within the EYFS. We are very much a child-led forest school with an adult-guided approach to extend the children’s experiences, learning and development.