The Poppins Curriculum
Forest School Enrichment
Forest school pedagogy is an educational approach rooted in outdoor, nature-based learning that prioritizes holistic child development. It is about giving children space to be curious, adventurous, and themselves. We are very fortunate to have a fully qualified and experienced Forest School Leader, called Caitlin. Caitlin is incredibly passionate about children learning in the outdoor environment, she is fantastic at following the children’s interests to extend their learning with carefully planned invitations to play.
Our Intent
We want children to develop a love of the outdoors; to learn how to care for our world, the environment and the living world of our tiny creatures.
The intent of our forest school sessions is we want the children to build self-belief, confidence in their abilities or when trying something new. To build resilience and lifelong skills such as problem solving and communication. We want children to develop a healthy emotional well-being, leading to better outcomes for their future. Experiencing nature, learning to be calm, to be curious and to be happy is all part of our forest school intent. We encourage children to breathe in nature and explore their surroundings of our natural world. We want the children to learn how to self-select resources for their own agenda, and explore the carefully planned invitations to play at their own pace, with adult support to scaffold their learning. We want children to leave Poppins with the understanding of caring for our natural world and all living things, to begin to understand about the changing seasons and the effect on the natural world, and have the confidence to explore the natural world around them.
How we implement this with the Forest School Enrichment
Regular, long-term sessions: Learning takes place over an extended period, typically through regular visits to the same natural setting - we provide this through our own Wilderness Garden. Forest school is available each week for all children at Poppins ranging from 20mins to 1hr depending on the age of the group.
Core Principles
Child-led learning: Activities are guided by the interests and curiosity of the children rather than a rigid curriculum, something Poppins implements throughout our nursery. The activities are invitations for the children to explore through their curiosity of the natural world. Forest School sessions are gentle, child-led (our children follow their interests), and are full of opportunities to build confidence, independence, exploring at their own pace and building skills naturally.
Holistic development: Focuses on physical, emotional, social and cognitive growth rather than purely academic outcomes. This helps support each child as an individual and something we feel very passionately about at Poppins.
Natural environment: The forest school setting is central, offering varied and unpredictable conditions that support safe risk-taking, exploration, and sensory development. Forest school is a unique way of learning that takes place outdoors, usually in a natural setting like our Wilderness garden. It is not just a one-off-nature walk. It is a regular part of our children’s education that helps them grow in confidence, creativity, and independence.
Supported risk taking: Children are encouraged to assess and take appropriate risks, which builds confidence, resilience, and independence. We do this by providing opportunities such as climbing, tool use and campfires. With supportive adults nearby, children learn to take small, safe risks like climbing trees, balancing, using simple tools, or building shelters - all at their own pace.
Skilled Practitioners: Forest School leaders are trained to facilitate learning and manage risks while observing and responding to children’s development needs.
Time in nature: Regular outdoor time helps children connect with nature and their environment and develop a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
Staying safe: Planned and supervised activities such as learning to use tools like peelers and vices safely, explore wildlife and natural habitats, opportunities to create art with natural materials, freedom to climb, balance, and move in new ways and time to be calm and still when sitting around a fire where children will learn about safety and teamwork.
Benefits
Encourages creativity and problem solving.
Enhances physical health and motor skills.
Builds resilience, self - esteem, and social skills.
Deepens environmental awareness and connection to nature.
Positive emotional well being.
Whole child development: It is not just about academics, Forest School supports emotional wellbeing, social skills, physical health, and problem-solving abilities.
Developing confidence and resilience: Our children become more independent and resilient through hands-on challenges and outdoor play.
