We have recently trialled the Tops Forest School at our Bournemouth nursery, and what a success it has been! With children and parents alike being delighted by the scheme, we will now be launching the Tops Forest School at the following nurseries this term: • Tops Charminster • Tops Boscombe • Tops Poole • Tops Parkstone Tops Bournemouth will also be continuing its Tops Forest School. So, what is the Tops Forest School?
The Tops Forest School gives our children a unique experience, taking them once a week on outings and teaching them about nature through nature.
The forest school initiative originated in Scandinavia and has been rapidly developing in England and Wales over the last 4 years. Forest schools have demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and through play, have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others.
During our trips out we will have the opportunity to do a host of different activities. These include den building, pond dipping, exploring, tree climbing, woodwork and scavenger hunts. We will also be learning about the wildlife around us and we’ll even get to toast marshmallows on an open fire!
A number of our nursery managers have recently been on a training course, learning about the ethos behind forest schools and discussing certain barriers and solutions for implementing the Tops Forest School into our nurseries.
For the majority of the training, the staff ‘got to be the children again’ and spent a few hours engaging in practical forest school activities from whittling, woodwork, scavenger hunts, games, making bread and cooking on the open fire.
For more information on our Tops Forest Schools, and to sign your child up, please speak to your nursery manager.
