Home Education Forest School (5-11 year olds)

A unique, child-led outdoor primary aged Forest School session for children who are Home Educated. The children will be nutured by nature. Delivered by Qualified Forest School Leaders, our activities are planned to support and encourage children's holistic development and increase their connection with nature and the natural world. Activities may including Tree Climbing, Bush Craft Skills, Fire Lighting, Cooking over a fire, our Mud Kitchen, Digging, Climbing, Balancing, Nature Art, Flora and Fauna identification and learning, planting, woodland management, Gathering Circle songs, stories and games, nature education and exploration! A chance for children to relax, play, learn and explore in a natural environment whilst connecing with nature and developing friendships.

Location:The Birchbrook Nature Reserve can be accessed via either, Houseman Road, Birchett Road or Blunden Hall. As part of our environmental ethos, we encourage you to walk, cycle, jog, skip or scoot to our site, where possible!

Birchett Road: (best for parking) Follow Birchett Road (Gu14 8RG) around, and follow the small track between house numbers 71 and 73, which takes you to the allotments. You may park here. The nature reserve is on the left in front of you.

If parking here, please ensure you park considerately, leaving plenty of space for emergency vehicle access to the gate.

Houseman Road: Walk/park along Houseman Road (GU148QF), cross Cove Brook, using the wooden bridge. Continue straight forward, passing the wooden gate and the reserve entrance is on the right.

Blunden Hall: Walk on foot, by following the Cove Brook path, from Blunden Hall—where you may also park— until you reach the wooden bridge. Turn left, pass through the wooden gate and the reserve entrance is on the right.

Arrival: you will be welcomed at the Nature Reserve entrance by our Forest School Leader. Here your name and enrolment information will be checked. Your child/ren remain your full responsibility until they pass over the metal grid. Please be vigilant of vehicles which may be moving in the allotment area, and considerate of other members of the public.

In wet weather the metal grid can become slippery, our Forest School Leader will be there to monitor and support safe entry as required.

What to wear:

Our sessions are held outside, in all weather! At this time of year, the risk of bites and stings is high - especially as there is a plethora of nettles and long grass which has grows in abundance during the summer. Therefore, please ensure your child is wearing:

Long sleeved T-shirt  (to protect arms from bites and stings)

Long jogging bottoms/leggings/ trousers   (jeans are not recommended. No shorts)

Sturdy, waterproof wellies/boots/trainers

Thick socks (ideally with trousers or leggings tucked into them)

Waterproof coat & waterproof trousers (just in case)

Sun hat

Please ensure long hair is tied back. It is advised that you apply suncream prior to arrival.

This adheres to our Health and Safety policies. We reserve the right to refuse attendance if we deem the clothing to not be appropriate for the conditions.

What to bring:

- any snacks and drinks you and your child may want during the session. Please ensure these are nut free; chocolate free; no fizzy drinks and not overly sugary (they attract wasps); no lollypops on sticks.  We promote healthy options. We do not 'stop' for an official snack time, unless we are cooking or preparing food as part of the session, as we do not want to interrupt the children's play and learning.

- any medication that may be required (as listed on the enrolment form).

Toileting:

There are no toilets at our site. We keep all our sessions to under 3 hours to support this.

Please ensure your child has been to the toilet before arrival.

During sessions, if required we 'wild wee', and if necessary, we create a dug latrine.  A member of staff will advise & support the child/you where an appropriate location is.

Tick Check:

At this time of year we advise that you do a quick body check of your child for any ticks after your session. We will have a lot of long grass on our site as the summer develops and therefore there will be a risk of ticks. If your child is dressed adequately (long sleeved T-shirt which is tucked into a long jogging bottoms/leggings, which are tucked into socks), the risk is low. However, I advise a body check on return home..

If we notice a child has one in a session, we are medically first aid trained to remove it – and a phone call will be made to you to get your permission.

For more information and advise on how to remove a tick visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/injuries/skin-injuries/tick-bites#:~:text=Using%20fine%2Dtoothed%20tweezers%2C%20gently,the%20skin%20around%20the%20bite.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Forest School. If you have any questions, please ask. Remember to complete the enrolment form.

We are running these sessions as "drop and go". However,  we wish to be fully inclusive, if you feel there is an individual need for you to stay with your child for the duration, please include that information on the enrolment form. If staying, you will be required to read and sign or Risk Assessment for adults with no DBS.

With Thanks

Julie Dear

Forest School Leader