Forest school nursery - please share your experiences!

[NameChangedForThis2025]

I’ve impulsively signed my DS (3.5) up for a new forest school nursery 2 days a week starting January, he’d stay at his existing nursery the other two days.

I’m now having nerves about the decision as he’s very happy at his current nursery. If there’d been a forest nursery open when he started nursery I totally would have been keen on it, and he LOVES being outside, he’s all about finding sticks and acorns. I don’t want to unsettle him when he’s happy but also I think it’s his only chance before school to have this kind of time in a very non-traditional outdoors environment. Also, he’s been involved with some rowdy behaviour with the older boys at his nursery (nothing serious) and I’m wondering if they’re getting a bit bored and a change of environment might be stimulating.

Keen to hear from parents with direct experiences of forest school!

Both of mine went to a forest school based nursery from 9/11 months, respectively. It wasn’t like only outdoors. They did have a building, but they were outside most of the day in all weathers (with various shelters, mud kitchens, free play structures). It was fab. I couldn’t say a negative thing about it.

We had to move when youngest was 3.5 because we made a long distance move, and he went to a traditional preschool for 6 months, which was okay. But it didn’t come close to the previous nursery. They have forever to sit indoors being forced to learn. I think they need to be outside as much as possible before that.

Thank you. They don’t have access to a building most of the day. They start at the village hall and finish there but from 10-4 won’t have access, but they do have a heated covered area and a big bell tent with a stove.