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The Village Preschool E17 is proud to be one of the few East London preschools to offer a genuine Forest School experience with our own dedicated space.
Our Forest School sessions give our children the chance to develop their confidence and boost their self-esteem through hands-on learning in our dedicated environment. The Forest School space is on our doorstep and it is here where The Village Preschool’s two fully-qualified Forest School leaders share in their passion about the benefits of outdoor learning to provide a fun and educational experience.
As the children explore trees and plants, leaves, insects and mud, they become more comfortable in natural settings. Working independently and in small groups of their friends, they learn a range of new practical skills and start to understand how to manage risks in activities.
Children learn about the importance of nature and how they can protect it, while engaging with all areas of the curriculum. The children perform activities that enhance their literacy and mathematical skills, as well as their understanding of the world.
Sessions run every Wednesday during both morning and afternoon sessions, every Monday morning and Friday afternoon.
They don’t mind if it’s cold or wet (as long as they have the right clothes) and the garden looks so different in the rain, frost or snow. Things change to looking shiny, feeling slippery or sticky – all things that children love.
We find that the children remain much calmer when taking part in Forest School sessions. Team work becomes a natural part of play in the garden and children develop stronger bonds with each other and the staff.
Children who spend time outside are physically more healthy. They have fewer colds and coughs. They are stronger and have better large motor skills like running, balancing, moving and handling large objects. They also develop fine motor skills, essential for future writing skills.
Without access to man made toys, children will use their creativity to find ways to play with things they find in the garden. Toys have rules (you drive cars or stack bricks), at Forest School you do anything with anything.
Without loud over stimulating sights and sounds surrounding them the children can relax. During our Forest School sessions we see children sitting quietly – maybe admiring a leaf or just taking in the surroundings. We incorporate mindful practice in the sessions, aiding the children to focus on one thing for as long as possible.
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