forest PREschool

Clare’s Little Bears began taking children to the Forest Preschool at Panshanger Park in 2017.  After its closure, we felt our children were missing out and we set out to bring our own forest school to Clare’s Little Bears.

Our forest Preschool is based at Hampson park a short distance from our Preschool and we are a professional service delivered by qualified Forest School Leaders. We are a fully Outdoors Forest pre School open in  all weather, having  an indoor space in extreme weathers.

Using this space our children from age 2  take part in mini beast hunts, tree climbing, natural art, den building, risky play and fire building , lighting and cooking  Once children are 3 years old will we incorporate the use of tools which will teach them practical skills to take forward in their development. Children are encouraged to take risks and make their own decisions, while also gaining practical skills.

Forest School benefits children’s physical development, how to care for the natural world, empathy, resilience, team work, language, motor skills, improves well being, a sense of achievement and the ability to take risks in a safe environment.

Our forest team are Miss Natalie our Deputy Manager and Level 3 Forest School Leader, who has years of Forest School experience, Miss Kerrie who is a Level 4 Childcare Practitioner. Miss Marie our Forest School Assistant and our team of Apprentices, Miss Luci and Miss Jo. We follow the core Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, and incorporate learning in a safe, secure outdoor environment, where we promote child led  play and fresh air is abundant.

From April 2022 we will be open as a Forest Pre school and open Monday to Thursday.