Spending plenty of time outdoors is also an integral part of life at Broughton Cottage.

Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.

Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and complements the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.

The principles of Forest school are entwined within our delivery of the Early Years Foundation curriculum. An empathetic approach to the natural environment and assessing risk both for oneself and others helps strengthen independence in young children. Problem solving, team work, comradeship and a collective spirit of adventure help forge independence and strong bonds between the children which is evident both in the unique woodland setting and at nursery.

Michelle introduced Forest School in her previous nursery to complete the learning journey, which had previously been unavailable to parents working office hours, particularly in London, given the shorter Forest School day.  The parents’ reaction was overwhelmingly positive and they all commented how their children gained so much from the natural environment.