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FOREST SCHOOL
Every week, our children step through the trees into somewhere truly special, our very own private woodland, tucked just behind the preschool and used exclusively by our Plaistow Preschool family. Here, under the guidance of our Level 3 qualified forest school lead, Katy, children spend a morning each week learning in nature, at their own pace, in their own way.
What is forest school? Forest school is a way of learning that puts children in charge of their own exploration. Rather than being told what to do, children are given time, space and gentle guidance to investigate, create, take manageable risks and build confidence in a natural setting. It is one of the most highly regarded approaches in early years education, and having a dedicated, private woodland space for this is something we are enormously proud of.
A morning in the woods
On a forest school morning, children might build dens from fallen branches, working together to plan, balance and problem solve as they create their own shelters. They stir up imaginative feasts in our mud kitchen, developing early maths skills through measuring and pouring, and language skills through describing what they are cooking. Minibeast hunts see children turning over logs and leaves to discover woodlice, worms and beetles, learning to handle small creatures gently and understanding that living things need care and respect. Where appropriate for their age and stage, children take part in supervised fire lighting circles, learning about fire safety while enjoying the calm, shared wonder of watching flames, often toasting bread together. Older or more confident children may be introduced to safe tool use, such as whittling sticks with a potato peeler or bark stripper under close adult supervision, building the fine motor control and sense of achievement that comes from mastering something new and real. Throughout the year, children notice how the woodland changes with the seasons, giving them a genuine, lived understanding of the natural world around them. Sessions often end with a story or song together on log seats, a calm and reflective close to time spent outdoors. We then thank the woods for the time we enjoyed.
How forest school connects to THRIVE
Forest school is where several strands of our THRIVE curriculum come vividly to life. Hands On learning happens through real tools and practical tasks. Respect for the natural world is built through daily contact with living things and the changing seasons. Independence grows as children take on manageable challenges and try new experiences. Together is strengthened as children collaborate on shared projects like den building and problem solve as a group.
Why it matters
Time in the woods builds far more than muddy knees and happy memories, though there is plenty of both. It nurtures resilience, physical strength and coordination, early scientific thinking, and a lifelong respect for the natural world, all before children even start school.
Come and see it for yourself.
We would love for you to see our woodland and forest school sessions in action. Get in touch to arrange a visit or ask us on the gate about your child's next forest school adventure.