OPENING IN 2012
EarthCraftuk Forest PreSchool
We all want the best for our children and as a mother myself (mine are all grown up now and following their own exciting careers and personal journeys), I have been part of "the system" with my own children going to a traditional indoor preschool when they were little. However, as my own journey into the ethos and professional practice of Forest Schools has evolved, in today`s world, the importance of our children`s start in life has never become more apparent to me than it is right now, particularly in our current hi-tech, commercial, screen-based world.
In our Forest PreSchool, little ones would experience on a daily basis what it feels like to learn in a peaceful and tranquil woodland environment. They will learn to take and manage their own risks. They will learn that it`s all right to get a little dirty sometimes - their clothes and hands will wash!
As they get older, they will learn to use basic hand tools to make natural craft items. All ages will learn how to grow a Forest Garden - vegetables, fruits and flowers and enjoy the taste of seasonal vegetables which they have nurtured and grown themselves organically. They will learn how to cook simple food over the camp fire - they will enjoy camp fire songs and stories - take long walks in the woods learning about our native flora and fauna.
By the time the children leave us, we anticipate they are able to easily recognise, many of our native flowers, trees, woodland animals, insects and birds. They will learn to look after the natural environment and the Countryside Code is something they will follow naturally and continue for the rest of their lives. They will have developed their personal confidence to cope with the transition into primary school.
Most of all - your child will develop through their own natural play. Their natural creativity will shine through - their imagination will run wild using the natural resources around them - they will learn to fall down and get up again - they will experience first hand, the natural cycle of our seasons and the wonderous differences between them and they will have amazing fun as every day will be different! When the children want to take a nap, there are plenty of low hammocks to gently rock themselves to sleep.
If you are reading our website and you have researched the Forest School movement, we thank you, as you obviously have an interest in nature based experiences and natural holistic development for your child.
At EarthCraftuk our latest project is a full time outdoor Forest Preschool which we plan to open by the summer of 2012- open 48 weeks of the year, Monday-Friday (apart from Bank Holidays) from 8.00am to 5pm.
If you are interested - this will be a full time outdoor preschool (there are no buildings - only woodland shelters!) for 2-5 year olds and from my research so far, the only one in Kent and if there are any others in England, I haven`t yet found them!
Our price structure will be £48 per child per full day (sorry, half days not available) and we will have up to 20 places available daily. Our staff will all be experienced and mature; Forest School trained, qualified and have a natural affinity with young children and nature based learning.
Our inspiration is from Scandinavian origins and also the Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery in Fife, Scotland (www.secretgardenoutdoor-nursery.co.uk) which is an inspirational early years fully outdoor setting which has become a centre of excellence and a model for outdoor preschools in Scotland.
If this concept appeals to you, please contact us if you would like to consider reserving a place for your child when we open later this year and also, if you are qualified early years (Forest School practitioner trained) teacher, looking to join the most enriching of early years educational provisions in the county - we want to hear from you too. We are also looking for a team of volunteers who can help at weekends, with the practical side of the project.
Please email Clair at info@earthcraftuk.com I would prefer email rather than phone please, as our office hours catching up with paperwork, are usually late at night and before most people get up each morning!
Take care
Clair & Scott
