Burgh Wood Bear Forest School

Aim of Forest School

Burgh Wood Bear Forest School aims to foster learning in the outdoor environment whatever the weather except high winds and thunderstorms with exploration of the natural world. It was part of Maria Montessori’s vision to encourage the development of the knowledge and understanding of the world one of her key areas of learning outcomes. It is now embedded in the Early Years Foundation Stage as an important way to promote self-reliance, independence and foster self-esteem. The prime and specific areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage are supported by the Forest School.

Our Forest School offers a weekly session for children age 3 years to school age, term time only throughout the year. Parents/Carers must liaise with the manager regarding availability for Forest School.

What is Forest School?

Burgh Wood Montessori Nursery offers many opportunities for young minds to develop learning new skills to encourage young children to reach their full potential. Play and exploration are an important part of the learning experience for both indoor and outdoor environments

Forest School provides holistic learning outcomes to develop the whole child both physically and emotionally to encourage children to acquire skills to become capable and confident with good self-esteem in this enabling environment.

“The best classroom and the richest classroom is roofed only by the sky”

Margaret McMillan

Activities

At Burgh Wood Bear Forest School children engage in wide-ranging activities such as tree climbing, den building, making a campfire, playing hide and seek and certain times of the year tie-dying using natural ingredients such as blackberries. We also collect natural resources from the environment such as leaves, acorns, pine cones, conkers and sticks for a display in the woodland or for our nature table back at nursery.

Unique child

Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

Positive Relationships

Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.

Enabling Environments

Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.

Learning and Developing

Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

Burgh Wood Bear Forest School sessions run on Wednesday mornings (9-12pm) with 8 spaces available for children aged 3 years or over.

Parents interested in allowing their child to attend these sessions, which are provided on a first come first served basis, must sign up to give their consent for their child to attend and agree to provide suitable clothing.