‘Free to Learn’
at children of the forest
Free to learn was a project created during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. During this time many families, including our own, reassessed what was important for our children and for their education. From these reflections we wanted to create a project which encouraged children to develop the skills to teach themselves, to be a part of a community and to practice skills like cooking, creating and collaborating which they will need for the rest of their lives.
During a time of deprivation, we valued our connection with the natural world even more and felt it was important to foster and facilitate that connection in children, which is why we often take our groups on walks around the local countryside, on foraging expeditions and guide them with on-site activities to deepen and broaden their knowledge and respect for the flora and fauna around them.
If you’ve decided to attend school part time or home educate, we offer full days (9:30—3pm) for children aged 5-12 to spend in nature in our beautiful private woodland. Our aim is to deliver the highest quality of care and education in a unique outdoor setting, giving your child the chance to grow and learn in nature.
This prospectus aims to provide you with an introduction to our days at Children of the Forest, our routines, our approach to supporting your child’s learning and development and how we aim to work together with you to best meet your child’s individual needs. This should be read alongside our Childcare Terms and Conditions for a full description of our services.
Ethos
At Children of the Forest our ethos and pedagogy are hugely important parts of our Forest School provision. We believe in compassionate, child-led learning and see our roles as long-term mentors as opposed to deliverers of a curriculum. As part of that learning we aim to follow and plan around the children’s needs and interests.
“I’m so glad you guys are so close to where we live. I wish they didn’t have to go to school and could just carry on coming here with you two.”
We ask that all our participants, children and parents, follow three simple principles: To look after themselves, To look after each other, To look after the Forest.
We believe in ‘meeting people where they are’, which means that we strive to be a setting for those who love getting knee deep in the mud and for those who shiver at the sight of an earthworm. Our sessions don’t have any forced activities, so that we can join you in a ‘nature connection’ journey whatever stage you’re starting at.
“Coming to Forest School was more about me. I knew the kids would be fine but I’m so glad that I’ve been coming. I held a worm and cut firewood with an axe today, it’s amazing when you think that I didn’t want to get my shoes muddy when I first came here!”
We have discussed our educational philosophies at length in our podcast “The Forest School Podcast” and now regularly give talks and training to teachers and educators about facilitating child-led outdoor learning.
ABOUT US
Lewis Ames and Gemma Southerden are both former teachers who have gone into business together to focus on what they are passionate about: giving children and families meaningful learning and play experiences, in the great outdoors. Since becoming qualified Forest School Leaders, and starting with a few small groups, Children of the Forest is now a well-loved part of the Mid Devon community.
WHAT DO WE DO?
We run forest school sessions in our beautiful, private 3 acres of Gaddon Woods near Uffculme. As well as our Home Ed days, we run two weekly toddler groups, a Saturday morning club and holiday clubs for 6-12 year olds, and seasonal ‘Forest Families’ festivals (Forest Families is a great session to attend to get to know us and the forest - you can find dates by clicking ‘Book Now’ from the Homepage). Activities include campfire cooking, nature learning, natural crafts, shelter building, fire lighting, woodwork and tool use and much more. In our sessions, children can explore and follow their own learning, play and friendships, supported by qualified teachers and forest school leaders. Our mission is to give children real skills, real freedom in their play, and reconnect families with nature.
A TYPICAL DAY
No two days are the same in the forest. The child-led, play-based nature of our setting means that the children’s interests and imaginations lead our planning of activities. We often plan a day and then change all the plans in the moment when the group discover something, reveal an interest or mood! However, a typical day might look like this:
9.30: Children arrive. Welcome circle where we greet and check in with one another and remind the group of our three rules: Look After Yourself, Look After Each Other, Look After the Woods.
Group game played in the woodland, using our social skills, keeping physically active and exploring the woods.
Exploration of the woodland and nature based activities: bird spotting, bug hunting, tree and plant identification games; assisting with woodland maintenance such as coppicing or landscaping, or splitting firewood.
10:30: Snacks around the campfire, with music making or word games.
11:00: Self directed project opportunities where children can choose to engage in many activities: firelighting, woodwork, den building, cooking over the campfire, or just playing games…
12:00: Lunchtime.
12:45: Free play, self directed projects activities such as outdoor art and craft, pottery, painting; baking or continuing the morning’s interests.
14.00 Storytelling.
14.45: Tidy up and circle time with reflection and sharing ‘gratitudes’. Getting ready to head home.
HOURS, FEES & PLACES
Our sessions run Wednesdays and Thursdays 9.30-3pm, term time only.
Children attend for two full days, without their parents / carers. All new children will start with ‘taster days’ if they have not attended any of our sessions before, then commit to attending weekly sessions, following Devon term dates. This allows for the group to bond and for the forest school ethos of ‘long term provision’ to be met.
Fees are £35 per day. Fees are paid monthly in advance through our direct debit membership system. You may be able to get help with childcare costs - more information here. We are registered with Tax Free Childcare and Childcare Vouchers, so fees may be paid with this.
In line with our Forest School ethos, we have high adult to child ratios - our maximum group size for Home Ed days is 15 children, with two Forest School Leaders.
Our high adult to child ratios allow us to give time and attention to each child; talk with them about their interests and activities; allow children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide, especially those with beneficial risk involved such as tool use and firelighting; and allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety. Children with additional needs may require additional support. Please contact us to discuss this.
STAFF
LEWIS AMES (DIRECTOR)
Qualified Primary School Teacher
PGCE in Primary Education
BA Hons Music
Level 3 Forest School Leader
Paediatric First Aid
Forest School First Aid
Child Protection & Safeguarding Training
Prevent Duty Trained
Forest School Association Director
GEMMA SOUTHERDEN (DIRECTOR)
Qualified Teacher (9 years experience)
MA in Teaching
Diploma in Drama
Paediatric First Aid
Forest School First Aid
Child Protection & Safeguarding Training
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A SPACE?
You will find a short application form at the bottom of this page to fill in and submit. We will then be in touch to invite you for a taster day or add you to the waiting list if the group is full.
Children who have previously or currently attended our other sessions will be prioritised to maintain the existing mentoring relationships.
WHAT WILL MY CHILD NEED TO BRING / WEAR?
Children will bring their own packed lunch and snacks each day (we have a cool box to store food in warm weather; children are also welcome to heat their lunch over the fire). However cooking healthy snacks on the campfire is a regular activity. Clean drinking water is always available and children are provided with warm drinks in cold weather.
As well as a packed lunch, snacks and a drink, children will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing. This includes wellies, full waterproofs, and thermal layers, hats and gloves in cold weather; sun hats in warm weather. They will also need to bring spare clothes - getting wet and muddy is extremely likely! Our site is on a hill and colder than your average park, so lots of layers, thermals and hats, gloves etc is a must in winter.
WEATHER
Forest school is all about play outdoors in all weathers. It is often said that there is no such thing as bad weather: just bad clothing! We have a huge parachute over our main camp to keep off the rain, as well as other shelters and any that the children choose to build!
However, there are certain weather conditions that will affect the running of the Forest School, which may mean we need to cancel sessions. Please see our Weather Policy here for more details.
POLICIES
We can explain and show you all our policies and many can be found on our website for parents to view, under ‘Policies’.
Further information
You are welcome to ask us any questions - please email childrenoftheforest@outlook.com
We recognise the role we need to play in order to balance and create diverse role models in the outdoor community, we use profits from our sessions to subsidise participants in our forest school sessions as well as our CPD training and Forest School Leader courses.
if you would like to enquire about a subsidised space for one of our groups, please send us a message below