Forest School
Adventure starts outdoors.
Forest School is a big part of what makes our setting special.
Our children aged 3+ have regular opportunities to spend time at our Forest School site, where they can explore, investigate and enjoy the natural environment.
Forest School experiences may include.
- Campfires and outdoor cooking
- Building and creating with natural materials
- Exploring and investigating nature
- Learning to use tools safely
- Discovering plants, wildlife and the changing seasons
- Muddy and sensory play
- Teamwork and problem solving
- Developing confidence, resilience and independence
Confidence that grows in nature.
Forest School is about much more than simply spending time outdoors. Through regular experiences in nature, children are supported to develop independence, confidence, self-esteem, communication, empathy, motivation and respect for the natural environment.
Children are encouraged to explore, investigate, make choices, solve problems and take appropriate risks in a safe and supportive environment.
Our learning doesn’t stop at the Playgroup door.
We are fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful places for children to explore. We make the most of our local community through seasonal walks, beach visits, trips and other real-life experiences.
These experiences help children develop their confidence, curiosity and understanding of the world around them.
Woodland Adventure Days.
During selected school holidays, we also offer special Forest School Woodland Adventure Days for children aged 3+.
Children can spend the day outdoors exploring, creating, cooking, playing and enjoying everything our Forest School has to offer.
Ask us about outdoor learning.
If your child enjoys discovering how things work, creating with natural materials or noticing wildlife, our outdoor sessions offer plenty to explore. Children can follow their curiosity, work together and make choices, supported by the experienced team. The activities listed above are examples of the experiences children may enjoy; time in nature also gives them space to observe, investigate and develop their own ideas.
Families in Aberporth, near Cardigan, are welcome to contact us to learn more about regular Forest School sessions for ages 3+ or Woodland Adventure Days during selected holidays. Ask about the sessions available for your child, arrangements for joining in and any prices advertised for special days. You can also see our fees and funding information before making an enquiry.
Forest School in Aberporth: what to expect.
Forest School is a child-centred way of learning outdoors, and it is one of the things our families love most about Aberporth Bilingual Playgroup. Instead of learning from a worksheet, children learn by doing: building dens, following tracks, tasting food cooked on a fire and discovering what lives under a log. Our sessions are led by trained, qualified practitioners who plan each one around the children’s interests and the changing seasons.
Children aged 3 and over can join us in the woods, and we begin gently. In the early sessions children get to know the space, the boundaries and the adults who look after them. As confidence grows, they take on more challenges, from using child-safe tools to carrying out small projects with friends. Every child is encouraged to take sensible risks at their own pace, which helps them judge for themselves what feels safe.
Why parents choose outdoor learning.
Time in nature supports children’s wellbeing, physical development, language and teamwork. Being outdoors gives them room to run, climb, balance and get properly muddy, and it helps shy children find their voice. Because we are a bilingual setting, children also hear Welsh and English naturally while they explore, naming trees, minibeasts and the weather in both languages.
For a general introduction to learning outdoors, you can read more about the approach on the Forest School Association website. To see how Forest School fits with the rest of our care, take a look at our Playgroup, childcare and fees and funding pages.
What a woodland session looks like.
A typical outdoor morning starts together, with a warm welcome, a quick check of the weather and a chat about what the children would like to do. From there, children are free to follow their curiosity. Some will gather sticks and leaves to build a shelter, others will hunt for minibeasts with magnifying glasses, and some will simply enjoy the quiet of the trees.
Sessions end with time to talk about what we noticed, share a hot drink or a snack and tidy up together. Please bring your child in clothes that can get dirty, and we will talk you through what to wear and bring before the first session. If you would like to find out more or book a visit, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Forest School?
Forest School is regular learning outdoors in nature. Children spend time at our Forest School site, where they explore, investigate and enjoy the natural environment.
What age can children go to Forest School?
Children aged 3 and over have regular Forest School sessions with us. Woodland Adventure Days in the school holidays are also for children aged 3 and over.
What do children do at Forest School?
Children might cook on a campfire, build with natural materials, explore wildlife and the seasons, learn to use tools safely, and enjoy muddy and sensory play.
Who runs Forest School?
Forest School is led by our qualified Level 3 Forest School Leaders, Jonathon Preece and Emily Davies. They are supported by our experienced Playgroup team.
What are the benefits of Forest School for young children?
Forest School helps children build independence, confidence, self-esteem, communication, empathy and motivation. They also learn respect for nature and how to take safe, appropriate risks.
Do you run Forest School in the school holidays?
Yes. In selected school holidays we run Woodland Adventure Days for children aged 3 and over. Children spend the day outdoors exploring, creating, cooking and playing.
Come and see what makes Aberporth special.
Choosing childcare is a big decision. Come and meet our team, look around the setting and discover whether Aberporth is right for your family.
The Vestry, Hen GapelAberporth
Cardigan
Ceredigion
SA43 2DA07410 881722
