Great and Small Forest School

always nice to see little action shots of them every week too!

and detailed comments really make my day and it’s lovely to know he is being so well looked after. The passion from the staff and their care for the children shine through, and as a parent, that really is the most important thing! The opportunity to mix with other children, play on their own terms and follow their own interests is fantastic and I would highly recommend this setting to all of my friends. My other son who is nearly 2 will love it too when he is old enough to join in!

runs through. Thanks for being such an amazing part of her development. We can't wait to book on to the next block.

All using funded hours. I fully trust them with my son's allergies. He tells me about playing in the water, the mud kitchen and adding water to hills to make them a better slide! I also have the option to pay for lunch which is made on the campfire which my boy loves!

some other older children that are home educated/flexi-schooled and they have the most amazing adventures.
Their ancient bit of woodland is the perfect environment to be in which they have developed to make it a nice place to spend prolonged periods of time.
Activities and projects are planned for the children, but they are also given the trust and freedom to follow their own plans for the day if that’s what they want to do.
I could keep going about how much we love the forest school, but the fact my son loves it so much that he celebrates that he’s going the next day says it all!

self-esteem. The setting also allows children to engage in risky play which has many benefits for children’s development. It’s a wonderful childcare setting and I am so happy that my little boy loves attending!

and passionate about forest school education and its benefits. We have really loved our time at Forest School.

and his body active. Thank you everyone for helping give him such a good start in life!

faze her and she is more than happy to spend large amounts of time out there, accompanied or not, when safe. The staff are always so welcoming and my daughter has a great connection with them. She has learnt some great skills in her time there and has developed some lovely friendships too. To top it all off, the fire cooked meals and snacks are a highlight of her day!

up to and his development regarding things such as relationships with peers and functional skills.

Friday morning whether it's sunny, raining or snowing! She learns so much about life and the outdoors whilst she is there as well as the education side. She loves her peers there and she is well looked after. I receive a great report every week on the app, including pictures which are 10/10 from a parenting point of view. Yes, she comes home muddy and sometimes, a bit wet but these are her best days! A little mud doesn't hurt anyone!

new skills in a safe environment. His self-confidence has increased a lot and he's very comfortable being outside in nature and thinks nothing of being cold, wet or covered in mud (he likes to jump in muddy puddles!), he's learnt to just get on with things. The staff have been fantastic and always provide a fun and nurturing environment for our little man to learn new life skills and enjoy himself in the great outdoors. I can't recommend them enough, it's a great place to send your kids and a fantastic alternative to traditional pre-school settings. When our daughter is old enough, she'll be going too.

is a Forest School day, she comes home absolutely filthy with a huge smile on her face, telling us all about the mudslide, tyre swing and the stream. Her interest in the outdoors has grown so much, getting her to come inside is now a challenge! I can’t recommend it enough! We will definitely be looking at school holiday sessions in the future.

the time to get to know my son. Their approach to teaching and learning is child-led and gentle. I would highly recommend Great and Small for anyone looking for a real forest school experience for their child.

asked what he has done he always tells me everything. They also offer a weekly storytime via zoom which has become a weekly staple in our home and missed when it's not on during the half terms. My son's confidence has been developed massively and his love of the outdoors strengthens. It's a shame he going to school in September as he will miss his outdoor adventures with the staff. If you are looking for your child to learn and be nurtured whilst being in the great outdoors then look no further. Highly recommend.

my daughter to be able to experience nature and to take ‘risks’ that would allow her to work through and assess the danger through problem-solving. The Forest School supports this beautifully and allows her to take on challenges safely. I watched her grow in confidence and I can’t recommend the forest school enough.

their fields. The care, support and education from the dedicated practitioners is unbelievable which is evidenced by how fondly my boy talks about them and trusts them. Communication is excellent along with the support provided. As a teacher myself, I am amazed by the broad and varied learning opportunities which will become life-long skills. The confidence and abilities that my child has developed since he first started have surpassed all of my expectations. Don't let the winter months put you off either, thermals and extra layers work wonders. I would urge all parents to send their children here. In my opinion, it is the best setting in the area (and wider surroundings) for sure.