Forest School Guide
We know you’ll probably have lots of questions about Forest School and what our sessions are like, so we’ve put together this handy guide to help. There’s quite a bit of information in here, so you won’t want to read it all. Just use the contents page to jump straight to the parts that are most useful for you.
Looking for quick answers?
Our FAQs have you covered.
What is Forest School?
Forest School is a child-led approach to learning in nature. Through regular outdoor sessions, children explore, play, take supported risks, and grow in confidence, independence, and self-esteem. It’s about building a deep connection to the natural world while supporting each child’s curiosity, creativity, and well-being. Find out more here.
What age groups do you work with?
We welcome children up to 11 years old to join our sessions. We offer three age-based groups so every child can learn, play, and grow at their own pace:
Pre-Nursery Sessions
For children turning 3 this school year and younger.
Nursery Sessions
For children turning 4 up to those turning 7 this school year.
Primary Sessions
For children in primary school, turning 7 up to turning 11 this school year.
What language are the sessions held in?
Fanni speaks both Hungarian and English, and Ross is a native British English speaker. Our Pre-nursery group is held in English. As well as being accessible to English speakers, it’s a great way to expose your child to English from an early age and for you to practise speaking. No worries if you don’t speak English or are a complete beginner, you’re more than welcome to join and we’ll support those learning to practise what they know! Our Nursery and Primary School aged groups are dual language sessions, held in both Hungarian and English, making them accessible for all. For Hungarian children, it’s a chance to practise and build confidence in English through games, songs and playful immersion, while enjoying the freedom and fun of the great outdoors!
What should my child wear to Forest School?
Children should wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that can get dirty, including sturdy shoes or boots. For further guidance, checkout our Forest School Guide.
Is Forest School safe?
Yes. We carry out thorough risk-benefit assessments for all sites, tools, and activities to ensure a safe environment where children can explore, learn, and grow with confidence. Additionally, by encouraging appropriate risk-taking, we help participants develop the vital life skill of making their own judgments about how to stay safe.
What happens if the weather is wet, windy, hot, or cold?
Forest School takes place in all weathers, so please ensure your child wears clothing suitable for the conditions. However, if we believe the weather may prevent us from holding a fun and safe session, we may need to cancel. Check out the Forest School Guide for more information.
Do children need to bring food or drinks?
During each session, children will enjoy a light healthy snack, and drinking water will be available at all times. We kindly ask that you do not send additional food or drinks for your child to consume during sessions.
How do you support children with special needs?
We strongly believe in including all children in our sessions. We work closely with families to accommodate individual needs and ensure every child can participate fully. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss how we can best support your child.
Can parents join in the sessions?
An important part of Forest School is helping children build confidence and independence through their own exploration and decision-making.
Pre-Nursery Sessions: Parents join their child to support them in exploring and learning together.
Nursery Sessions: Adults may attend with children turning 4 this school year. For older children, parents can choose a gentle transition – attending the full first session, then half of the second – before the child begins attending independently. We work with you to ensure your child is ready for this.
Primary Sessions: Children attend independently.
For all sessions, our approach encourages children to make their own choices and develop independence in a safe and supportive environment.
How do you handle allergies, medical conditions, or dietary requirements?
Please inform us of any allergies, medical needs, or dietary requirements before sessions start by completing the contact and permission form during checkout. We will also discuss these needs with you in person to ensure we can plan and provide a safe and suitable environment for your child.
All food we provide is plant-based.
Will you be running sessions in my area or for my child’s age group?
We offer sessions for three different age groups, up to 11 years old. If we’re not running in your area, don’t currently offer a group for your child’s age, or you represent an organisation interested in working with us, please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.
Still have questions?
We would love to hear from you!
