Little Grange Nursery is nestled within 90-acres of woodland and green space on the Bilton Grange Estate - an ideal setting for our Forest School. We offer a haven for discovery and adventures for our Little Grangers. We take the children out and about, in all weathers and throughout the year, enjoying visits to the chickens to collect the eggs, to the Science pond where we can spot boatmen and tadpoles, and to the Organic Garden where we can plant, grow and harvest our own crops. We can walk for miles without leaving our grounds, including exploring two large and historic woodlands where we can see and explore the seasons changing around us.

At Little Grange Nursery we are also lucky to have a Forest School qualified practitioner on our team, and this enables us to run Forest School Sessions for our Little Lions and Rangers throughout the year. Under the parachute canopy, we enjoy lighting campfires and in our Forest School outdoor classroom the children enjoy a wealth of activities where they engage with their peers and the environment around them. Forest School is an inspiring process, a specialised approach to learning that aims to develop confidence and self esteem through hands-on learning in our woodland environments. Our regular, lengthy Forest School sessions allow our children to develop a special relationship with their natural world and its child centred approach enables our children to explore in ways of their own choosing, developing their ideas as they would like.

Our Forest School sessions offer children the opportunity to take supported risks, such as balancing on logs and climbing trees. Through playing in the natural environment, we are able to develop all of the children’s core skills. Whether it be developing gross motor control and core strength by digging in the mud or rolling tyres to make a game, or developing creative and communication skills creating magical potions for the woodland fairies; there is so much to learn and discover. We can develop our fine motor skills in threading activities, use mud for mark making and painting and develop our Understanding of the World, through observing the changes around us through the year.

In addition to the known benefits to wellbeing that physical activity and getting fresh air have, forest school supports children to: • Build self-esteem and confidence • Co-operate and communicate with their peers • Understand the importance of taking care of the environment • Nurture empathy and a sense of connection to nature • Be inspired by the world around them • Build a positive attitude to learning and motivation