What do you do when the hedgerows are burgeoning with ripening blackberries, and the early apples are starting to drop? You make sure you use them in as many ways as possible! Blackberries have been a focus across the Nursery and in the Den we opted to make some hedgerow tea!
Read moreI come to nursery to see my friends
The Burrow is such a lovely room in the way of relationships as the children are at the right age to start building friendships and understanding those around them.
Read moreFrom The Hive to The Burrow and from the Burrow to the Den
It’s that time of year again when we say hello to our new children and goodbye to our older children as we move into new rooms. Don’t panic yet, the official moving date won’t be until September
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 moreOUR NEW CLIMBING FRAME - NOURISHING THAT SENSE OF ADVENTURE!
In the words of Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield, authors of Nature’s Playground: Life is full of risk, so the best way to prepare children for life is to ensure they know how to judge risk for themselves. The children in the Den became curious looking at the box which had been delivered to their room.
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 more30 hrs Funding Offer at Free Rangers
It has been no secret that here at Free Rangers we do not agree with the way in which the government has offered an extended early years entitlement that has been poorly funded and poorly thought through.
Read moreSleeping bunnies
In the Burrow, the sleep routine begins with the early morning conversations between parents and staff about any changes in home sleep patterns - has the child slept well or woken early or is the child may be growing out of an afternoon nap?
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 moreGoing out in all weathers
Something I have recently over-heard or been asked is “are you staying in because it’s raining?” I thought I would write in a blog why we go outside in ALL weathers and the benefits we see in the children.
Read moreDate for the diary in the Den
Date for the diary... Friday 14th July 2017 2.00pm – 4.00pm Does your child attend in The DEN… Is your child going to start school in September 2017... Do you want to celebrate their time at Free Rangers...
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.
Read moreThe Assault Course is Dead. Viva la Timber Trail!
In the first year of Free Rangers opening, we did some serious development of our blank canvas. From the outset, we knew our outdoor space was special and we didn't take it for granted when planning its conception (nor do we now!) Our brief: to make it as appealing, varied and challenging a space for our little adventurers as possible, turning bare grass into the tangible, climbable, and jumpable. We built it, and they came. But that was a long, long time ago...
Read moreBug hunting in Spring 2017
Hello, I hope you all had a lovely Easter and didn’t eat too much chocolate! This week has been great to meet our new children whether they have moved down from the Hive or they are new into Free Rangers altogether.
Read moreUpdate from The Burrow
During March the Burrow have been focussing on all things Spring, particularly linking in Forest School sessions at the pond, with the book, “The Wide Mouthed Frog” and the song, “Three Little Speckled Frogs.”
Read moreThe Magic Wand
Is that a magic fairy tree I can see? This week we have been using loppers and our imaginations to send a gift home to our family for the very special day we will be having this Sunday.
Read moreNot Everyone's Cup of Tea
As spring thoroughly forges ahead, the newest, tenderest shoots are often the fodder of deer and rabbits. But back in March on Forest School, we decided to make use of some rather more volatile ones for ourselves...
Read moreThree Peaks 24 hr Challenge: Join Free Rangers in Supporting Local Families
A number of the Free Rangers Forest School Nursery Team in Welton are stretching their legs in preparation for the 24 hr Three Peaks Challenge they are aiming to complete on Saturday 3rd June this year.
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I've been on Forest School!
With Lauren taking a well earned rest, I have been fortunate to go to Forest School with Soraya and a group of children twice this week.
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