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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

91 replies

Gincognito · 27/08/2011 22:42

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 .

OP posts:
backwardpossom · 27/08/2011 22:43

YANBU wish there was one here sigh

Tonksforthememories · 27/08/2011 22:45

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

Original poster
Gincognito · 27/08/2011 22:47

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 Wink

OP posts:
cheesesarnie · 27/08/2011 22:49

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

Pippinintherain · 27/08/2011 22:52

YANBU.

I would love to set one up.

Children are so much better outside, as am I!

ihavenewsockson · 27/08/2011 22:53

whats that one, gincognito?

plumtart · 27/08/2011 22:55

yadnbu

Original poster
Gincognito · 27/08/2011 22:59

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
Gincognito · 27/08/2011 23:01

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

OP posts:
YABACC · 27/08/2011 23:02

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 Grin

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 · 27/08/2011 23:02

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

lovemyboysandbeagles · 27/08/2011 23:02

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 · 27/08/2011 23:03

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.

TeamEdward · 27/08/2011 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuntyPenfold · 27/08/2011 23:06

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

BuntyPenfold · 27/08/2011 23:07

OMG TeamEdward

lovemyboysandbeagles · 27/08/2011 23:07

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 · 27/08/2011 23:08

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

MugglesandLuna · 27/08/2011 23:10

Did someone mention the M word?

TeamEdward · 27/08/2011 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovemyboysandbeagles · 27/08/2011 23:12

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 · 27/08/2011 23:13

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

Schnullerbacke · 27/08/2011 23:15

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

NonnoMum · 27/08/2011 23:15

Faddy and over-rated.

Go to Brownies if you want to build camp fires.

BuntyPenfold · 27/08/2011 23:16

I do wonder about the winter, and the loos.