A Day in the Wild: How Our Forest School Sparks Growth, Curiosity and Confidence
- Nursery Days
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Imagine a classroom without walls. Instead of desks, there are tree stumps. Instead of whiteboards, we use the sky, the mud, and the whisper of leaves in the breeze. Welcome to our Forest School – nestled in a private 5-acre plum orchard just a short walk from our nursery in Poot Lane, Upchurch.
Here, learning comes alive in the great outdoors, grounded in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework but delivered with mud on our boots and wonder in our eyes.
Why Forest School?
Decades of research highlight the developmental benefits of outdoor learning. A study published by the Institute for Outdoor Learning found that regular outdoor play fosters physical development, builds social confidence, and boosts problem-solving skills. In fact, according to the Natural Connections Demonstration Project (2016), children taught in outdoor settings were not only more engaged, but also demonstrated improved wellbeing and resilience.
And that’s exactly what we see every day at our Forest School.
Learning Through Nature: EYFS, But Wilder
We don’t just talk about the EYFS – we live it. Every area of learning and development is embedded in our outdoor activities:
Communication & Language: Children sing songs around the firepit and tell stories using natural props.
Maths: We measure rainfall, count duck eggs, and track the growth of our veg patch.
Literacy: Writing happens with sticks in the mud, chalk on logs, or leaf-based storytelling.
Expressive Arts & Design: Nature provides the canvas – from weaving with twigs to mud kitchen masterpieces.
Mud Kitchens, Den Building & Social Skills
Social and emotional development thrives in our outdoor environment. Working in groups to build dens, digging in our mud kitchen, or acting out stories boosts children’s collaboration and confidence. These activities promote personal, social and emotional skills – all while having fun (and getting a little muddy!).
Risky Play, Resilient Children
Contrary to popular belief, “risky play” isn’t reckless – it’s essential. Under safe supervision, children at our Forest School climb trees, balance on slacklines, and take part in real adventures. This kind of play:
Improves motor skills
Teaches risk assessment
Builds resilience
As Dr. Mariana Brussoni, a leading researcher in child development, states: “Children need to experience risk to learn how to manage it.”
From Plot to Plate: Real Food, Real Learning
We harvest fruit and veg from our allotment and polytunnels. Children help wash, prepare, and cook snacks over the firepit – from orange peel cakes to smores. Firepit pizza is a firm favourite, giving children the chance to safely use tools and take pride in feeding their peers. Cooking outdoors reinforces fine motor skills, sequencing, and sensory exploration.
The Animal Crew: Ducks, Donkeys, and Cluckingham Palace
Animal care is a daily part of life in our orchard:
Ducks splash in the pond near their converted rabbit hutch.
Guinea pigs love a cuddle and need their water and food checked daily.
Chickens in “Cluckingham Palace” teach children about health checks and animal wellbeing.
Donkeys are brushed, fed, and visited by the farrier every six weeks. Children even help with poo picking and water bucket filling!
These experiences nurture empathy, responsibility, and a deep understanding of animal welfare.
Caring for the Wild: Rewilding, Bugs, and Birdlife
We’ve created habitats for every kind of minibeast you can imagine:
Bug hotels and beetle banks
Bee baths and butterfly stations
Ladybird towers, hedgehog tunnels and bat boxes
Children tend the wild garden, top up bird feeders, and build nesting boxes – all while learning how interconnected our world is. Nature becomes not just a subject, but a shared responsibility.
A Final Word
Forest School is not just a trend – it’s a transformational approach backed by science and shaped by the seasons. Our children don’t just learn about the world. They live in it. And in doing so, they grow – emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually.
If you’ve ever wondered what real childhood looks like… it’s here. Muddy knees, bright eyes, and a heart full of curiosity.
About Us:
We are vastly experienced and knowledgeable after years of early years practice as a team. We know that choosing a nursery is a big decision and understand what is important to parents and children. We are aware of the demands and pressures parents have in their lives and so offer many different flexible sessions to suit our individual parents' needs. From funded or self-funding places to vouchers from work, we will always try to work out what will work best with you.
Visit Our Website at: www.nurserydays-upchurch.co.uk
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