One morning per week throughout the year the Kindergarten children attend forest school on site in the forest garden. We go out in all weathers to learn about our senses and the natural world, building resilience through team games as well as developing fine and gross motor skills through challenges such as building dens and working with tools.

Before leaving the classroom to enter the forest garden, we discuss the weather as a class and decide what clothing we need to wear. We then dress in any required waterproofs and thermals and together make a list of the equipment we want to take to the forest garden. Upon arriving in the woodland we go to our ‘sit spot’ for a mindful moment before coming together as a group for our opening circle. The children use a talking stick to share what they have noticed and then undertake a teacher-led challenge. We use snack time in the forest garden as an opportunity to come together for a storytelling session before moving into an extended period of child-led independent learning in the forest garden.

“The forest garden is beautiful and encourages imaginative play.”