It was really difficult to hear. My Forest Schoolers rarely dishearten me over things they might mention during the sessions but one had stopped on the Timber Trail on one particularly wet Forest School session.
Read moreLeaf Crowns
It’s my favourite time of year. There’s something very comforting and familiar about Autumn. The kaleidoscope of colour. The falling of leaves. The chill in the air. The smell of wood fires. Hot drinks and woolly hats. It's a riotous assault on the senses.
Read moreFire: Sparking their Curiosity
Fire; the one tool in my Forest School arsenal guaranteed to spark creativity, curiosity and focus. Seeing a child make their first fire is something very special. We have been harnessing and bending it to our will since time immemorial, and even now, after all the fires I've lit (a lot), it still captures my attention and draws my gaze
Read moreMacho Macho Kids
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 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 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 moreChild led play
For two weeks now on forest school we have been exploring the mud kitchen in the lower paddock. When we arrived the children got stuck in straight away with no holding back. In the kitchen we have the usual pots, pans and utensils for the children to play with.
Read moreNatural Maths
The Den Team wanted to share what we have been doing in the Yurt in our group activity sessions this week. Our activities have been great examples of just how much learning comes from having fun!
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 moreLift the Bar
Working in childcare is an emotionally and physically draining, we decided as a team that we also needed to invest time in looking after ourselves and do our best to buck the trend of the two hour toilet research!
Read moreJayne is cooking up a storm in the Free Range kitchen
So I'm Jayne and I have been in the catering industry since I was 16. Whilst at school I used to pack vegetables in a local green grocers.
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 moreMaking the Spark
Today whilst on lunch, Lucy approached me with puppy looking eyes saying my name very sweetly “Lauren, you're a forest school leader!” Of course, my initial reaction was to say “I'm too busy” but I sat and listened. She asked if I could write down a few reasons why we use fires on forest school and the benefits of this.
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 moreLanguage and Imagination
Last week’s Forest School activity was focused around language and imagination. Our setting for this activity was the inside of the willow dome, a natural ‘room’ or enclosure, a cosy space perfect for storytelling
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