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Forest School

Forest School Ethos

Forest School

Forest School is an outdoor education program that immerses children and adults in hands-on learning experiences within a natural woodland environment. It emphasises child-led exploration, play, and adventure, fostering independence, creativity, and confidence. Participants engage in activities such as building shelters, fire lighting, and using tools, which develop practical skills and promote holistic growth—physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Forest School provides a unique opportunity to connect with nature, encouraging a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors while supporting individual development and well-being.

Download our Forest School Handbook
There are six key principles to Forest School:

The benefits of Forest school

  • Enhances physical fitness
  • Develops practical skills
  • Boosts confidence and self-esteem
  • Encourages creativity and imagination
  • Promotes social skills and teamwork
  • Improves problem-solving abilities
  • Fosters independence and responsibility
  • Reduces stress and anxiety
  • Cultivates a love for nature
  • Encourages environmental awareness

Some of Our Activities

  • Forest games
  • Transporting friends over hills
  • Making Clay Faces
  • Building Dens
  • Going on Bug Hunts
  • Making rope swings
  • Using Tools and Fire Lighting
  • Climbing trees
  • Foraging
  • Collecting woodland material
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Risky Play

Risky play, also known as adventurous play can have benefits for children’s development, including those under 2 years old. However, it’s important to carefully balance the need for exploration and challenge with ensuring the safety and well-being of young children. Risky play in early childhood is crucial for children’s development.

Research shows that children who engage in risky play develop better:

⭐ Confidence

⭐ Resilience

⭐ Risk assessment abilities,

⭐ Problem-solving skills,

⭐ Emotional regulation.

Risky Play fosters creativity, independence, and a sense of adventure, laying the foundation for healthy physical and cognitive development.

Lets explore the 6 Categories of Risky Play…

  • Great Heights – Children seek opportunities to climb to great heights as well as, jump, balance, hang, or swing from those heights. Interacting with great heights helps kids face fears and build confidence.
  • Rapid Speed – Children seek opportunities to run, swing, slide, sled, bicycle, skate, roll, ride, and spin at rapid speeds. Moving at rapid speeds helps children understand and use their bodies.
  • Dangerous Tools –

    Children seek opportunities to use potentially dangerous tools like knives, saws, axes, rope, power tools, machinery, etc. Using dangerous tools helps children build confidence and skills.

  • Dangerous Elements – Children seek opportunities to engage with potentially dangerous elements such as fire or deep, cold, or moving water. Engaging with dangerous elements is a chance to face fears and understand the world.
  • Rough and Tumble – Children seek opportunities to play fight, wrestle, chase, sword fight with sticks or pool noodles, etc. Rough and tumble play is a chance to hone physical and social skills
  • Disapearing and getting lost –

    Children seek opportunities to play and explore unfamiliar spaces either alone or in small groups. Disappearing or getting lost offers a temporary scary thrill.

Scallywags is a sanctuary - for the children AND the parents! 😂 We are so thankful to have found this incredible forest school for our son. I could never have dreamed of finding such an enriching programme for his early years development, led by incredibly dedicated and experienced staff. No question to silly, no doorstop chat too long. The fact that our son gets to explore nature every day and learn so much about the world has allowed his confidence and communication to soar and we are so proud of his development and thankful to Scallywags for such a wonderful safe and secure learning environment for him. We are sending our 2nd when they arrive…we love it so much - we’ve already secured their Jan 2027 spot! ☺️ Thank you Scallywags team!
Joanna Marie C.2025
Joanna Marie C.
Scallywags is the perfect Nursery for our son, and I always recommend to my friends. My son has attended since he was 14 months old, and is now 3. From Ducklings (The baby room), to Butterflies (Pre-School) and every room inbetween, every member of staff has been caring and exceptional. Our son has completely grown into his own since being at Scallywags and really thrives in the outdoor learning setting. Each key worker that our son has been assigned, has always gone above and beyond to answer any questions and deal with any concerns we have. We are forever grateful for their support and care.
Hayley R.2025
Hayley R.
We could not wish for a better nursery for our daughter and cannot recommend Scallywags enough! The attention to detail in every single planned activity is second to none, with daily trips to the forest and local town (fire station, library etc) and opportunities to join the children for parent breakfasts/events. We are always updated throughout the day with lots of photos of the activities on the app and it’s evident our daughter is having the best time! The staff always go above and beyond, and show such care and attention to the children, we couldn’t ask for more!
Laura C.2025
Laura C.
My 15 month old son is absolutely thriving at Scallywags. They keep you updated throughout the day, all the staff are all lovely and so helpful and feels more like a family atmosphere there than a workplace for them. I am so happy I put my Son there and recommend it to everyone when they ask about nursery recommendations.
Kelly P.2025
Kelly P.
I had the most amazing experience with this nursery! I drove 15 minutes just to go to this nursery and still do now passing so many nursery’s on the journey but for me I would drive an hour to still send my little 1 here. I looked at so so many and chose scallywags through seeing it and recommendation. My little 1 went from 1-4 years old and thrived in everything and learnt so much when he started and throughout. My 2nd baby has now started and I’m just as happy if not more. The staff are beyond kind and caring and so so hard working. It’s like a family in there. Thank you for your continuous hard work team scallywags.
Louise H.2025
Louise H.
Scallywags is an amazing nursery, my son is absolutely thriving there the care and attention the staff show is second to none, he has been there for nearly 2 years now and there has been no staff turnover which says a lot about the nursery environment! Excellent nursery and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to family and friends! Thank you Scallywags team!
Killy M.2025
Killy M.
"Scallywags is in a league of its own. The level of engagement, fun, attention and care the children receive is outstanding! I cannot recommend them enough!"
Stephanie G.2025
Stephanie G.
"The best nursery for our little girl and we can’t wait for our new baby to start as we know he’ll be in the best hands ❤️ forever grateful to all the wonderful staff ❤️"
Lee and Georgina2025
Lee and Georgina
"Cannot recommend this nursery enough, they go above and beyond not only for the children but also the families. Just had a Mother Day afternoon tea and it was so thoughtful and was lovely meeting the other mums and children from my sons class. Thank you Scallywags"
Hayley R.2024
Hayley R.
“The staff are all very welcoming, friendly and warm, always smiling!”
Parent2022
Parent
“The extra activities are great! It's one of the reasons I moved my son to this nursery”
Parent2022
Parent
“The provision is exceptional. Great variety for the children”
Parent2022
Parent
“Absolutely love this part (forest school ethos) of the nursery’s offering, my child really enjoys this and confidence has developed so much through the forest ethos and regular outings in the community”
Parent2022
Parent
“I think the nursery goes above and beyond to make the educational experience for the children well rounded.”
Parent2022
Parent
“A fantastic well organised place for children to learn in a fun and loving environment. I highly recommend.”
Parent2022
Parent
“The nursery care about the children and are very imaginative with their play time”
Parent2022
Parent
“I am so glad that Scallywags has been a part of both of my boys’ early years & I wouldn’t want them to go anywhere else. I have every faith in the staff’s ability to provide a safe, friendly and welcoming setting :-)”
Parent2022
Parent
“Love everything about the nursery. Love it - very glad we chose the setting.”
Parent2022
Parent
“Couldn’t wish for a better place to leave her when I’m at work, I really struggle leaving her and have so much guilt that I have to work but knowing she’s cared for and loved makes it so much easier for me and her.”
Parent2022
Parent
“We couldn't be happier with our experience at Scallywags! All of the staff that we've met at Scallywags have been so friendly & it creates a really nice environment”
Parent2022
Parent
“Scallywags is a brilliant nursery following a forest ethos which we love. We was recommended and would ourself recommend to anyone”
Parent2022
Parent
“Thank you all for everything that you all do, trusting others with our most precious little people can be so hard but you make it easier by being a kind, caring and fun bunch.”
Parent2022
Parent
“We have been using Scallywags for almost four years, and our children love attending. They have made wonderful friendships and have progressed beyond their peers who do not attend. As parents we are often in awe of the activities available.”
Parent2022
Parent
“We have been using Scallywags for almost four years, and our children love attending. They have made wonderful friendships and have progressed beyond their peers who do not attend. As parents we are often in awe of the activities available.”
Parent2022
Parent
“A caring, stimulating, fun environment for my daughter with friendly, approachable, competent staff. Going to Scallywags has helped my daughter's development enormously (particularly with her speech).”
Parent2022
Parent
“Friendly, fun nursery which takes good care of children making them feel safe and enables them to be independent.”
Parent2022
Parent
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