To think there should be more, many more, forest schools?

[Gincognito]

And to wonder why anyone wouldn't want to send their pre-school dc to one?

It just seems like such a fabulous idea - all that time out in nature, learning how to manage risk (eg setting boundaries, learning why you have to walk around the fire, not touch the fungi etc), developing motor skills, engaging in imaginative play...

Sorry, don't mind me. I'm just reading Last Child in the Woods .

[backwardpossom]

YANBU wish there was one here sigh

[Tonksforthememories]

My DCs are at a Forest School, mainly funded by the PTA. Only been running since last September but is doing famously!

Completely agree with you! :o

[Gincognito]

Maybe I should retrain and set one up?

Or just move close to one?

There's one near Dorking that's Montessori and a forest school.

Middle class bliss

[cheesesarnie]

cant you just do it all as a parent rather than a special school?

[Pippinintherain]

YANBU.

I would love to set one up.

Children are so much better outside, as am I!

[ihavenewsockson]

whats that one, gincognito?

[plumtart]

yadnbu

[Gincognito]

In Shere. The outdoor bit is only part time but that's better than nothing.

I remember reading an article a while back about one in Scotland that is full time. They only go in for proper blizzards - otherwise under a tarp.

Tonks, where are you? Was the PTA involved in setting it up?

[Gincognito]

Cheese yes of course you can do things outdoors as a parent, but does that preclude being outdoors at pre-school?

[YABACC]

It's a very different vibe being part of a school rather than being a parent and taking pre-school-age DC to the woods I would have thought. The social aspects and benefits of being in a different situation from home. Plus little children adore being outdoors even in shite weather and wouldn't miss access to a kettle and MN as I would

I would have loved to have something like it for DS if they were set up for children with autism because it is getting increasingly difficult to take him anywhere out of doors now and it isn't as if I can ever let him play out with his peers / friends as DH and I were used to doing.

[browneyesblue]

YANBU - wish, wish, wish there was one around here...

[lovemyboysandbeagles]

I have never heard of Forest Schools until this thread and my DS's are too old now, but what a FANTASTIC idea, I would def have sent mine to one. What is Monetesori though...missed that one too, maybe I suspect becuase I am not upper class???

[pigletmania]

At my dd pre school they had a mini forest school running once a week, at her new school they will have Forest school there too.

[BuntyPenfold]

A friend is currently training in order to set one up; it will be in West Devon.

[BuntyPenfold]

OMG TeamEdward

[lovemyboysandbeagles]

Just googled Montessori, all about holistic learning to build confidence etc in a nutshell. I have seen sings for Montessori schools in Lancs but they are all private schools, not the local primary school :( But I don't think my DS's have missed out too much.

[cheesesarnie]

no.im guessing were lucky in where we live.schoold are naturally all about the outdoors without being a special school.

[MugglesandLuna]

Did someone mention the M word?

[lovemyboysandbeagles]

Yes mugglesandluna (love the name!), is that bad? I Know very little about them apart from what I have just learnt when I googled (see previous posts).

[ninah]

I think the outdoors is over-rated, personally, and civilisation begins with a lintel

[Schnullerbacke]

Come to Germany, there are quite a few around...

[NonnoMum]

Faddy and over-rated.

Go to Brownies if you want to build camp fires.

[BuntyPenfold]

I do wonder about the winter, and the loos.