At Free Rangers our children are always highly active, inside and especially outside. Being active is high on our agenda and it is one of the characteristics of effective learning.
Read moreOur routines of Forest School
After a lovely week off I was raring to go on Monday morning when I got in and wow what a difference a week makes. It was great to see how well the new children have settled into the routines of Forest School and would personally like to thank all the girls in the Burrow for holding it together whilst I was away!
Read moreBugs Galore
This week we have enjoyed welcoming new children, both from the Warren or those joining us from another settings. It has been lovely to get to know all these children whilst at forest school and to help grow their understanding of the great outdoors.
Read morePond Dipping
Pond dipping is easily my favourite Forest School activity, so I was very excited to be part of a few sessions last week. It is truly lovely to be sat by the water’s edge on a warm sunny day and admire the surroundings that our pond has to offer.
Read moreKeeping the spark alight/alive
This week the Burrow children have been focusing on the timber trail. We have been testing our balancing, climbing and confident skills as we took on the challenges that the trail can give us.
Read moreCollecting sticks for our fire
Over the past couple of weeks we have been focusing on fire and what elements come with this. Whether we’ve been looking at cotton wool or our fire steel the children have shown great interest in this activity!
Read moreDo You Need a Hand?
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.
Read moreMacho Macho Kids
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).
Read moreA Healthy Dollop Of Risk and Challenge
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?
Read moreVisiting the Goats!
Over 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 moreIndependent 2 Year Olds
Recently 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 moreClimbing the Fort
We 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 moreWanted: Full Time Early Years Practitioner
Wanted: Full Time Early Years Practitioner
Read moreGarden play in the sun
At 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?
Read moreTotally Wild
This weekend we were lucky enough to host a foraging workshop, led by the brilliant James Wood, from Totally Wild UK. What his man doesn't know about wild foraging opportunities isn't worth knowing!
Read moreChucky Pigs
Now that the weather is warmer and the April showers have passed we've noticed lots of 'bug' life in the paddock over the past weeks. Which of course meant it's time to do our annual bug hunt to understand bugs and what to expect from them, how they move, how many legs they have and how they change throughout their life cycle.
Read moreInCredible Edibles - Making Wild Tea
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!
Read moreMove. Think. Play. Like a Bug!
If I asked any of our Forest Schoolers which space they like to play in the most, I would know. It's simple really. It's the space that offers the most diverse options for play. Our Tree House gets an absolute hammering from the children, but then again so does the rest of the site...
Read moreSpring is here...
On Thursday 31st March many of the Free Rangers team took a day of their holiday to come in to the nursery and give the rooms a spring overhaul. The aim was to review resources and give the rooms a face lift! Orders for new resources have been placed and the staff and children are eagerly awaiting the arrival of toys and materials that will enhance the learning opportunities of the children that attend.
Read moreWe are sailing!
This week the children and staff have enjoyed making boats and setting sail at the pond. After snack, we shared with the children, our pond rules; always asking the children to discuss these safety reminders, so we can gauge their understanding of these important behavioural expectations and work hard on personal risk assessment and independence.
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