Our toddler group is a great place to introduce children to the magic of forest schools.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Our Wednesday and Friday morning toddler groups are still running but you must book on to a half term block in advance. The September/October half term has now sold out and the next block will be going on sale by the end of the month. Only one adult can attend per booking.
We currently run 2 weekly sessions at our Brinscall site: Wednesday mornings (Wild Wednesdays) and Friday mornings (Forest Fridays). The groups are aimed at walkers upwards and are very relaxed and informal. We always begin with a brief welcome & safety talk and then introduce the activities.
There is a different theme each week – from mini obstacle courses to bug hunting, environmental art to dinosaurs. All the activities are optional and if your child wants to spend the whole session playing in the mud kitchen sink that is absolutely fine. There is always lots to do on site – we have a tunnel, rope swing, digging area, garden toys and the mud kitchen to explore – as well as whatever extra activities we’re doing. Half way through the session we stop to have a snack (fruit/crackers/biscuits and squash or hot chocolate for the children and hot drinks and cake for the adults). Most of the activities we do are free-flow and self-led so that your child is free to explore the environment at their own pace but if you’re not sure what to do then please ask and we’ll help you to feel at home.
Our Upcoming Toddler Groups
We have a composting toilet on site with a toilet seat and a potty available. Parking is also available on site. There are hand washing facilities and a shelter. We always run the group whatever the weather (unless there are gale force winds!) – if it is raining we have a large parachute tarp to go over the fire circle, an additional tarp and the shelter so there are plenty of areas to keep dry. We also have lots of spare waterproofs to borrow. You are welcome to bring a pram but please be aware that much of the site can be muddy and uneven so it is usually easier to have a sling for younger siblings. In summer we do put down a picnic rug and some baby toys but this isn’t practical during the winter sessions.
If you haven’t been before then please message us for directions as we are quite hidden away!
The toddler group sessions are currently block book only (which works out at £6 per child, £3 for additional children). In the winter the sessions run from 10 – 11:30, when the weather is warmer the sessions are 2 hours long.