Our Forest School focus over the past few weeks has looked at the children’s perceptions of strength. If you ask any child if they’re strong and you’ll get a mini Mr & Mrs Universe lineup of bicep tensing as a visable display of their perceived strength!
Read moreEmotions, they can be exhausting!
At Free Rangers we believe teaching children how to identify and manage their emotions is a life long skill. And as adults and primary carers we are in a good position to coaching them through a positive way to identify and manage the ups and downs of their daily lives.
Read moreMy approach and guide to potty training
There is defiantly a look…. a look that many parents have when the words potty training are mentioned for the first time. It is a mixture of confusion, fear and of guilt for having not done it already.
Read moreIs it a bird? Is it a plane?
No! It's Free Range children flying down the zip line with the greatest of ease! Over the past few weeks, our focus on Forest School has been all about challenging the children's perceptions of their confidence and physical ability and just how far they can push themselves to conquer fears.
Read moreMessy Play in the Hive!
Over the past few weeks in the Hive, the Hive have been plitting up into groups to take part in different activities whether they are walking around the farm to see the animals or getting a bit messy!
Read moreSugar Smart
A recent report from the Guardian highlighted the growing severity of tooth decay in young children. Statistics show that in 2012-13, more than 36,000 surgical procedures were carried out to remove teeth from children and teenagers in England.
Read moreA New Beginning!
On the 28th of February I'll be saying good bye to all the lovely staff here at Free Rangers, and also to all the mini Free Rangers and their families. As much as I'll miss everyone, I'm looking forward to starting my new career in the Royal United Hospital in their Nursery and seeing what the future holds.
Read moreThe Colour Monster is in the Den!
Every week we have a story of the week that is read to the den children during transition times. This week the book of the week is ‘The Colour Monster’.
Read moreThe adventures of under the arch!
So a new term normally means new toys, and that means new imagination, new adventures and more fun. Burrow and Den parents, I expect you've noticed we've had a little move around and there's some new bits and bobs about.
Read moreTransitions
The Hive (children under two) and the Burrow (children two to three) have been working hard to improve transition for the children and their families between the two rooms.
Read moreLearning at Free Rangers
We're not an educational sausage factory, we're more of a slightly unkempt allotment offering up fruit and vegetables of all shapes and sizes.That's why we try to make it clear from the outset that we're more interested about where you child is, not where they should be, and how we can support them, not simply push them through their time with us.
Read moreBridget's visit
Another open mic session from one of the Burrow's (now Den's) lovely mums, listening and looking at a guitar. Thank you so much for the wheelbarrow revamp too!
Read moreFood For Thought
There's something wonderful about allowing children to make a legitimate mess. It can provide such fantastic learning opportunities. It's when we apply a certain level of meaning to the mess created that we can see the magic happening...
Read moreNew Beginnings
It’s that time of the year again where we see another group of babies who have grown and developed into young toddlers move on into the Burrow but we also welcome a new set of babies as they embark upon their new adventures here at Free Rangers.
Read moreTeeth are Not For Biting!
Over the past few weeks in the Hive, the children have enjoyed reading stories with their carers - looking at the pictures and talking about what they can see! So recently over circle time we decided this would be a nice time to introduce a "book of the week".
Read moreWhy We Love REAL Tools
We love working with tools at Free Rangers and they have become a key component of Forest School, providing another avenue of access to the natural world. Tools help create and inspire, they help us understand the world, as well as ourselves and help promote confidence.
Read more30hrs How does it work at Free Rangers?
30hrs How does it work at Free Rangers. Do you think you're eligible for the 30 hours subsidised childcare offer at Free Rangers?
Read moreThe Free Rangers Mini 3 Peaks Challenge
You may have noticed recently some of your Free Rangers staff tackled the 3 Peaks Challenge, attempting to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in under 24hrs. Whilst this challenge fell at the feet of an intrepid few nursery staff, we wanted to extend the challenge to our Free Range kids as well, and set about challenging them to their own sponsored mini 3 Peaks.
Read moreReady, Steady, MOVE!
Children like to move. If you've ever tried to keep a child sat still for any length of time you'll agree that it's nigh on impossible. So when we go on Forest School we make sure we keep any stillness to a minimum!
Read moreIntroducing Charlotte, Gemma's Maternity Cover
It's not long now until we wave goodbye to Gemma and wish her well on her maternity leave. We can't wait to meet her little girl and we certainly can't wait for her return.But until that time I wanted to properly introduce myself as Gemma's maternity cover.
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