SAPLINGS
STAY-AND-PLAY FOR WALKING TO 5Y'S
TUESDAY 10-12
A weekly 2 hour forest school stay-and-play* session where children up to the age of approximately 5 have the opportunity for natural exploration and child-led outdoor activities.
Each session includes various equipment and activities, optional nature based crafts, optional tool-use opportunities, a drink and snack (usually fire-cooked, unless peak Summer) at story time, and often some singing too.
We begin each session in the log circle where we welcome everybody, discuss our options for the day, recap staff members and safety info, etc before heading off to explore and play. We gather again for a snack and drink while we read a story together and recharge ready for more play. At the end of each session we come together once more in the log circle to share feedback with our talking stick before saying goodbye and leaving the site.
These sessions are predominantly aimed at children between 18m and 5y, though we do not have a strict start/end age - we simply ask that your wildling is confidently walking and you feel they would happily explore with those within this age guide; we have had some children as young as 10 months or as old as 7 years, often younger siblings join in gradually as they grow until they are big enough to be officially enrolled.
To follow the flow of the seasons, help spread the cost for you, and fit in with school-based term-times, our half-term blocks run as follows:
SPRING BLOCK April & May
*May half term*
SUMMER BLOCK June & July
*Summer holidays*
AUTUMN BLOCK September & October
*October half term*
WINTER BLOCK November & December
*Winter holiday*
FLOOD SEASON CLOSURE January to March
These sessions will go ahead in all weathers (except extremely high winds / dangerous storms / flooding).
Although parents are present, you are encouraged to take a step back when you are both ready, to give your child the freedom to explore and so you can enjoy seeing them flourish.
Our "SAPLINGS" Forest School sessions are priced at £15 per child per 2hr weekly session.
Non-walkers can attend for free with a paying sibling, but they will not be part of the session itself.
You must have at least one adult per booking, with a maximum of three children per adult; if you would like to bring additional adults/children with you, just let us know.
*All children must be accompanied by a parent/carer and will remain their responsibility throughout the session.
If your child is not yet walking they can join our SEEDLINGS group, if they are growing out of this group there is our HOME-ED WILDLINGS and/or our FOREST FAMILY Sunday sessions for children of all ages.
EXISTING ATTENDEES GET PRIORITY BOOKING THROUGHOUT THE TERM; AT THE END OF EACH HALF-TERMLY BLOCK, YOU CAN SIGN UP TO ANY REMAINING SPACES. This is to help encourage the "long term" aspect of Forest School, as the longer you partake, the more benefits you will see for your little seedlings. Please follow our social media pages for announcements or keep checking back towards the end of each block (March, May, July, October).