“I am useless...”

November 27, 2018 RedFox

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.

Leaf Crowns

November 13, 2018 RedFox

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.

Fire: Sparking their Curiosity

August 8, 2018 RedFox

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

Forest School in the Den

February 5, 2018 RedFox

Forest School at Free Rangers is our bread and butter. It's what drives the nursery and it's our aim to get your children learning, exploring and (most importantly) playing outside as much as we can.

Food For Thought

September 1, 2017 RedFox

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...

Language and Imagination

August 29, 2017 Lucy

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

Why We Love REAL Tools

July 10, 2017 RedFox

Making tool use accessible, safe but most importantly, FUN!

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.

The Free Rangers Mini 3 Peaks Challenge

July 2, 2017 RedFox

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.

Do You Need a Hand?

July 31, 2016 RedFox

Forest School offers a lot of freedom. Freedom to explore. Freedom to imagine and create. Freedom to move. Sure, they get these element elsewhere too, but being able to do this throughout the outdoors, largely unfettered by the nuisance grownups sticking their oars in, makes their learning and development meaningful and memorable.

Macho Macho Kids

July 17, 2016 RedFox

Forest 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).

A Healthy Dollop Of Risk and Challenge

July 7, 2016 RedFox

When 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?

Forest School Holiday Club - Red Fox Report

June 5, 2016 RedFox

Creating strong friendships through play

Another Holiday Club has zipped by faster than your wild children down our zip-line. It was another fully booked week of absolute madness and fun. Here's what we got up to!

InCredible Edibles - Making Wild Tea

May 21, 2016 RedFox

Bottoms Up!

Little pinkies out! Let's have a cuppa! Anyone fancy a brew? Our Forest Schoolers however haven't been drinking any old builders swill. We've been foraging for the freshest most delicious greenery in our paddock to make some delicious conceptions to sample!

February Forest School Club

February 22, 2016 RedFox

Firstly, I would like to say a very BIG thank you. Thank you to all you parents for supporting the work we do at our Free Rangers Holiday Clubs.

Crafting for Christmas' Sake

December 19, 2015 RedFox

When dressing the Harding family Christmas Tree, I smile when unwrapping the brightly coloured Papier-mâché hearts and stars that have been so carefully crafted by myself and my siblings in our earliest educational years...

They came. They conquered.

August 10, 2015 RedFox

Forest School: Igniting fires of curiosity to inspire children to explore, play and thrive outside.

Free Rangers once again opened it's doors to what can be only be described as a HORDE of children to come and play, learn and thrive at Free Rangers Forest School Holiday Club. It not only proved to be the busiest Holiday Club we've ever run, but also the most fun!

Stories from Beneath the Apple Tree

June 24, 2015 RedFox

The mystery! The intrigue!

Picture the scene: a gaggle of giggly preschoolers sit attentively under the shade of our bowing apple tree. The sun streaks through the leaves leaving dappled sun spots on the ground, as the children create collective stories from a mismatch of natural resources. Not bad.

Forest School at Free Rangers

June 23, 2015 RedFox

Interacting, connected and in tune with the outdoors

We've made a Forest School video to highlight why we at Free Rangers think Forest School is such an important activity for us to share with your children.

See how strong I am?

April 29, 2015 RedFox

Strength and Cooperation. Learning and playing together through self discovery. Is there anything better?

When you ask a child: who thinks they are strong? you will without doubt be faced with the smallest line up to the Mr/Mrs Universe contest, as they flex their muscles and faces in a visual show of their perceived ability. Last week, we moved on from the Big Play activity where we learnt about safe movement over (and off!) our logs and larger play resources.

Big Play

April 17, 2015 RedFox

Yeah. That's right. I climbed to top. On my OWN!

Muddy bottoms. Bruised knees. Smiling faces. THIS is what makes all Free Rangers children awesome. I'd like to say that I have a big part to play in this awesomeness (at least that's what I tell myself), but to be honest they do it all on their own. And this week's Forest School in the Den was no different...

MAGAZINE

All profits will go towards building a forest school for primary aged children at Free Rangers!

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THE LATEST FROM INSTAGRAM

This is Jayne our Free Range Head Chef. 🍌 🥔 🥦 🥕 🍊
She oversees everything to do with the food onsite. Designing menus, budgeting, cooking, preparing, ordering, liaising with suppliers, liaising with the whole team and meeting the needs of all the children here.
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Her lovely Dad passed away recently and today, out of the blue, a food hygiene inspection was thrust upon her. She smiled and got on with it. Despite everything that she’s had to endure, the unspeakable pain of saying goodbye to such a beloved father, she got through the day with a smile and a giggle.
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We have been awarded another 5/5 for our food hygiene practices.
This is solely down to Jayne and the way she guides and ensures we do what we need to in the kitchen and smaller kitchenettes.
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So we wanted to come on here and say, thank you so much Jayne, we are very lucky to have you here.
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A massive high five to “Our Wendy,” Sarah, Erin and Rachel too. Thank you for all you do to ensure the food is tip top and lip smackingly delicious 😋.
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And @jayne.adams32 seeing as your Dad enjoyed a big gin and tonic, we think you deserve one if not two tonight! ❤️
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#chefoftheyear
#alwaysjuggling
#kitchenskills

Anyone else feel like September is like a mini new year?
Full of good intentions and back to routines, or indeed the start of school or nursery routines for some children.
To those embarking anew, then please do read Tam’s blog post (link in bio) it’s all about a positive transition to school but it also applies to starting nursery too.
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If you’re starting at Free Rangers, we welcome you warmly and if we’re losing you to school make sure the first question you ask on entering the classroom is, “Where would be a good place to hang my wellies?”
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Remember #muddywildhappychild so do all you can to encourage your child’s school to allow them outside regularly in all weathers.
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Also do ask your child’s reception class whether they are partaking in the pilot assessment test for Reception children. You are well within your rights to insist your child doesn’t sit it.
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Finally, to any new families at Free Rangers who are dropping off for the first time:
1) Come into the office if you need a tissue, hug, tea or coffee.
2) Please phone into the office for updates about your child and how they’ve settled.
3) Ask to speak to your child’s key person or communicate via Tapestry.
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It takes a village to raise a child or in our case, it takes a nursery full of caring practitioners working alongside our families to raise your child.
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📸 is taken at Radstock Museum - where you can dress up...so much fun.

Busy learning & playing, the two go hand in hand.
#muddywildhappychild

Happy Forest School Clubber!
#muddywildhappychild

What’s that word for when the weather represents your mood?
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Like the window pane, big, fat tears are rolling down our faces because Lauren (Lozza, Loz, Lozwario) is leaving today after 8 years of being part of the Free Rangers story.
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We wish her the best of luck for her new venture @theweddingsittingcompany and know she’ll smash it.
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Look after Horace Lauren and come back and see us soon.
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We love you, love all of us x x .
#elvishadleftthebuilding
#masteredtheselfie

Not too sure about it, but tried it anyway.
Putting yourself out of your comfort zone and really learning....children can be so good at this. I wonder if we are as adults? Does it become harder? What’s the latest thing you’ve learnt by stepping outside your comfort zone?
#muddywildhappychild

🏕 🏕 🏕
This weekend we hosted a camp with @survivalofthenurtured.
This photo explains it all.
In nature. 🍃
Making friends 👫
Learning about ourselves and others and how to instil empathy and compassion when we’re going about our day.
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For 36 hours we rolled as a tribe and it was all rather flippin’ jolly fantastic!
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Now to wash up the pancake pans.
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#muddywildhappychild
#survivalofthenurtured

Today’s deluge in action, but no wash out, only an opportunity to play and experience heavy rain with friends.
#muddywildhappychild

These lovely ladies are some of the Burrow Team.
They came to watch their past Burrowers attend the Leavers’ ceremony, it means so much to them to see the children they cared for and learnt alongside receive their medals and a round of applause.
👏 👏 👏
I’m sad to say we are waving farewell not only to our school starting children but also to some of our team.
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Nic and Lauren from the Burrow joined us as students and have shared this journey for six years!! Lauren is leaving to focus full time on her business and Nic is thinking about working within a school environment as a teaching assistant. They say all good things come to an end but we wish this wasn’t the case when it comes to this dynamic duo - we wish them so much luck on their ventures and want to publicly thank them for the love and hard work over the years.
From the Hive we say goodbye to Sophie Plummer, Amy Meredith and Lisa Button.
All three have given so many cuddles and offered so many hand holds to our youngest Free Rangers and all three are off to either schools or to work within the council assisting Health Visitors.
😞 😞 😞
When you lose great team members it’s truly upsetting.
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That’s why we feel very lucky to have recruited some previous friends of Free Rangers alongside two new faces.
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Rather than go into detail here I will send an email out tomorrow, so please check your inbox to meet our new team members in both the Hive and Burrow. Please communicate with your room leader with regards to your child’s new key person.
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Please join us in giving all of these girls a high five, a bear hug and so many well wishes. All are deciding to leave Early Years Education. 😭 😭 😭 .
But we look to the future and focus on building new and strong relationships with all the children here.
❤️❤️❤️
#muddywildhappychild