Select this paragraph to add your own text. Just drag and drop or click here to add this paragraph to your site, then you can add your own content and make changes to the font.
​
​
Nature is not just a beautiful place to spend time – it is a teacher and through forest school, all children can be given the strongest, most natural foundation for life.  Â
Our Vision
At Wilderwood Forest School Nursery we believe the best start for children begins outdoors, where learning is alive, meaningful, fully immersive and deeply connected to the natural world. We embody a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging . Our forest school setting is a truly magical site where children are at the heart of rich, hands-on experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence and help to develop a lifelong love of learning and connection with nature. Â
​
Â
 Â
Children can be free to explore, take risks, solve problems, develop resilience, build strong relationships and learn not only about the world around them but about themselves. Forest school nurtures the whole child as it fosters independence, respect for nature and a strong sense of self. Being outdoors is proven to contribute positively to children's mental health and wellbeing. By grounding early learning in outdoor experiences we can empower children to grow into confident, capable and compassionate individuals who feel connected to their environment and ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.Â
Our forest environment provides learning in abundance with no limits and allows children a naturally relaxing, engaging and supportive space to learn and grow. Â
​
 We achieve the 7 areas of the EYFS in many ways and understand that these areas are all interconnected with each other so a child can gain many benefits from just one exploration or activity. For example, finding a worm could lead onto measuring, story telling, discussion and questions, roleplay, fact file writing and more!  Â
Our Learning Approach
We also support our children to work together collaboratively, sharing in discoveries and building on ideas as well as solving challenges. Children experience immense joy from shared learning and engagement, which builds an unforgettable bond amongst them. We really can bring learning to life in the great outdoors!
We understand that each child is individual, children can learn in many different ways and being outdoors offers endless opportunities for creativity, collaboration and discovery. Being free to explore and play is an essential and valuable part of their time in the forest with us. Learning is child-led and children are encouraged to follow their interests and engage in nature-based activities that are inspired by the child. We support them to test their ideas and take risks appropriately. There is nothing greater for a forest educator than seeing the children wonder and awe at their own personal achievements.Â
At Wilderwood Forest School Nursery we blend forest school principles with the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) with a strong emphasis on emotional intelligence. Our approach supports the whole child, nurturing their emotional, physical, spiritual, social and intellectual development, preparing them to be not only school ready but life ready as well, all whilst strengthening their relationship with nature in our unique forest setting. Â
Early Years Foundation Stage the Wilderwood Way
The EYFS says that there are three prime areas that are particularly important for learning and forming relationships. They build a foundation for children to thrive and provide the basis for learning in all areas. These prime areas are communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development. Providers must also support children in four specific areas, which help strengthen and develop the three prime areas, and ignite children’s curiosity and enthusiasm. The specific areas are literacy, mathematics, understanding the world , expressive arts and design.  Â
​
Â
At Wilderwood Forest School Nursery, our curriculum is more than a set of lessons; it is a philosophy that places the child at the heart of the forest. We believe that true learning occurs when children are given the space to explore, the tools to create, and the freedom to lead their own discovery.
Â
​
Outcomes for life
Child-LedÂ
Seasonal curriculum
The Joy of Discovery
Each day brings new and exciting experiences ready to be explored and every single day is different under the trees of the Wilderwood Forest School Nursery!Â
Take a look at just some of the ways this amazing learning can occur outdoors with nature as the teacher.
Communication & language
Language grows naturally in the forest — through shared experiences, conversation, and storytelling woven into the day.
Whether singing songs around the campfire, acting out stories together, exploring on nature walks, or working side by side to build a shelter, children develop confidence in speaking, listening, and expressing themselves, supported by adults who take the time to truly listen.
Physical development
Physical development happens naturally in the forest, where children move with purpose across uneven ground and varied terrain.
Climbing trees, balancing on logs, digging, building dens, and using real tools all help to build strength, coordination, and body awareness, while developing confidence in what their bodies can do.
Personal, social and emotional development
Personal, social, and emotional development is nurtured through shared experiences, reflection, and connection with the natural world.
Whether cloud gazing, practising yoga and mindfulness, exploring together on nature walks, or working collaboratively to create animal habitats, children build confidence, empathy, and a strong sense of self, supported by calm moments of reflection and rich sensory experiences.
Literacy
Literacy develops naturally through meaningful experiences in the forest, where mark-making, storytelling, and early writing have real purpose.
Whether using sticks and natural finds to create marks, following muddy footprints, making cards, lists, and letters, or creating woodland invitations and bark rubbings, children build confidence and enjoyment in reading and writing at their own pace.
Mathematics
Mathematical understanding develops naturally through hands-on exploration and real experiences in the forest.
Whether counting pinecones, stones, and leaves, measuring natural objects, creating patterns, exploring water flow, or sharing out resources during play, children build confidence with number, problem-solving, and early mathematical concepts in a meaningful and engaging way.
Understanding the world
Understanding of the world grows through curiosity, exploration, and direct experience in the natural environment.
Whether identifying plants and trees, observing insects and seasonal changes, creating and following their own maps, or noticing natural processes, children develop a deeper awareness of the world around them and their place within it.
Expressive arts and design
Expressive arts and design flourish in the forest, where natural materials inspire creativity, imagination, and self-expression.
Whether making music with sticks and stones, creating artwork such as clay tree moulds and flower collages, experimenting with charcoal, chalk, and natural paints, or bringing woodland stories to life through role play, children explore and express their ideas freely.