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A lovely image taken by Anna Barclay, most amazingly skilled photographer.
As we grouped for the safety briefing I began to feel fluttering nerves. It was at this precise point that I wondered if I could actually manage to swim 6K.
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Is it a bridge? Is it a trampoline? No - it’s a giant crash mat! This week in the Burrow the children have been using their imaginations and using the crash mat for many different things.
Read moreHi, I'm Ezme and I have just started working at Freerangers in the Burrow. I am level 2 qualified and am currently studying for my level 3 qualification in Early Years. I have almost 2 years experience working with children in another nursery, however I have never experienced a forest school and even after just 6 weeks I am loving it.
Read moreForest School this week has looked at what it means to be STRONG! Against popular belief, I haven't been secretly training my own little army of Forest School minions ready to over-through Midsomer Norton at a moments notice, so I can final establish my Red Fox kingdom! (although that does sound like fun).
Read moreAt Free Rangers we value and celebrate mark making which is explored in all areas of play. Children often notice and marvel at the marks they make, looking at their footprints, using rakes and impliments to make marks in the sand, dragging them to make lines and curves.
Read moreAs you know the children have been learning our version of the traditional story of ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’. Each day they have listened to members of the Burrow staff reciting the story. The words have been embellished with some of our story making actions.
Read moreMyself, Madi, Lou, Cat, Tiff, Abbie and the rest of Free Rangers would like to welcome all the new babies into the baby unit! Which after a few weeks and lots of votes from all you lovely people has been renamed as... THE HIVE!
Read moreMy New adventure in the Baby Unit. The past few weeks in the baby unit have been very busy both for the staff and the children, so unfortunately I haven't had chance to meet and introduce myself to all of the parents personally as I hoped.
Read moreWhen I Joined Free Rangers in August 2011 we had just 12 children on role and from that point our numbers have grown with children registered to join us for sometimes a year, or more, in advance. One of my roles at Free Rangers is managing the room and waiting lists term to term and as most of you are aware we do our lists termly,
Read moreIn the Burrow this week, we have been experimenting. Would you ever have thought of putting ice cubes on a tray or table and letting the children paint them? This simple activity is a great activity for all ages of children, it can develop children’s gross motor skills whilst learning about the science behind colour mixing.
Read moreWhen observing play/learning situations on Forest School, I have to weigh up a lot of decisions in my head. Is their play safe? Should I step in here? How could I extend their learning? Which direction is that child taking their play?
Read moreOver the past couple of weeks we have spent time learning the Three Billy Goats Gruff story and during our Forest School sessions this story has received great attention. We were also lucky enough to visit Free Rangers’ own answer to the Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Read moreRecently in the Burrow we have been focusing on encouraging the children to be as independent as possible. Whether this is during Forest School, lunch or free flow. All the adults in the Burrow have been working together to facilitate and help the children to increase their independency on task.
Read moreSo, anyone that comes into the Burrow knows that we like a bit of creativity…from paint, to flour, to glitter, to MUD to well…anything!! We can literally make anything creative, mainly because the children take the lead and they have a knack of seeing the world differently. This week in the Burrow we have been cotton wool painting, but not just any cotton wool painting.
Read moreSetting up the Den room before the children arrive is an important job, as it ensures activities are ready to be explored by the children throughout the day. Today I prepared a painting activity; I popped sheets of paper on our easels, poured paint into paint pots and had brushes at the ready, waiting for our children to get involved.
Read moreWe have enjoyed a great week on Forest School and we feel very lucky with the weather we experienced. This week the tree house (fort) has been our main play area, using our climbing and balancing skills to move around.
Read moreIt has been really great to see so many children involved in mark making out in the paddock. Stereotypically, boys can often be reluctant to take part in mark making but this week many of our boys, and girls, have shown interest.
Read moreWanted: Full Time Early Years Practitioner
Read moreOver the past few weeks we have been focussing on our native, nearby bugs and understanding how and why we should be kind to them. This week we have taken our nets to the pond to see what pond life we have in our waters. Before we entered our pond area I discussed with the children our pond rules and what we need to remember to stay safe around water.
Read moreAt Free Rangers I am the Burrow Forest School Guru but that doesn’t stop me being involved with things the Burrow do whilst I’m out of the room! When I come back I am often greeted in the garden by children asking me to ‘play’ with them and often I think “I wonder how they expect me to play?” shall I be a fireman? Build a train?
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