Sep 11, 2026
You may have heard the term Forest School before, especially when looking at nurseries or early years settings. But if you’re picturing children simply running wild in the woods, it’s worth knowing there’s a lot more to it.
A Forest School is a long-term, child-led approach to outdoor learning where children regularly learn, explore and play in a natural environment. In early years settings, this might mean using woodland, gardens, fields, meadows or outdoor nursery spaces as part of children’s everyday learning.
It’s more than simply spending time outside. Forest School gives children repeated opportunities to explore nature, follow their curiosity, build confidence and learn through real experiences, with the support of trained early years practitioners.
Forest School is often linked to Scandinavian and Nordic approaches to early childhood education, where outdoor life, nature connection and learning through the seasons are deeply valued.
The approach became more widely known in the UK in the 1990s, after early years practitioners from Bridgwater College in Somerset visited Denmark and were inspired by the outdoor, child-centred approach they saw there.
Despite the name, Forest School doesn’t always have to take place in a forest. Children may learn in woodland, gardens, fields, meadows or carefully designed outdoor nursery spaces. What matters most is regular time in nature, with adults supporting exploration, curiosity, confidence and safe risk-taking.
Forest School activities are practical, hands-on and often led by children’s own interests. Depending on their age, confidence and the setting itself, children might:
They may also listen to stories and songs outdoors, tie knots, notice birds, plants and seasonal changes, or use simple tools safely where this is age-appropriate and closely supervised. In some settings, children may also learn around fire circles or fire pits where this is part of the setting’s trained Forest School practice.
To a parent, some of this might look like muddy knees, pockets full of leaves and a very important stick that has to come home. But underneath that play, children are learning all the time. They’re building language, physical skills, social skills and confidence through real experiences.
At The Old Station Nursery, Forest School encourages children to use nature as part of their learning. Children are supported to explore, notice the world around them, care for the environment and feel confident trying new things.
“At our Forest School, children are supported in their development across all areas of the EYFS through their natural surroundings. As they explore outdoors children build their communication and language skills through meaningful conversations with adults and their peers, the environment evokes a variety of questions from our curious explorers leading to further understanding of the world around them. Physical development is supported through climbing, balancing, building and moving across various outdoor surroundings such as the meadow and woodlands. Children are encouraged to problem solve, collect, count, make marks and sing songs around the firepit, supporting early mathematic skills and literacy as well as encouraging independence and confidence. Most importantly, Forest School allows children to learn through real experiences, at their own pace, in an environment where they feel motivated and engaged”. Jessica Stevens, Deputy Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Forest School Devizes.
“At our Forest School, children are supported in their development across all areas of the EYFS through their natural surroundings. As they explore outdoors children build their communication and language skills through meaningful conversations with adults and their peers, the environment evokes a variety of questions from our curious explorers leading to further understanding of the world around them.
Physical development is supported through climbing, balancing, building and moving across various outdoor surroundings such as the meadow and woodlands. Children are encouraged to problem solve, collect, count, make marks and sing songs around the firepit, supporting early mathematic skills and literacy as well as encouraging independence and confidence.
Most importantly, Forest School allows children to learn through real experiences, at their own pace, in an environment where they feel motivated and engaged”.
Jessica Stevens, Deputy Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Forest School Devizes.
Outdoor play is important for all young children. It gives them space to move, explore, get fresh air and enjoy being active.
Forest School goes a step further. Outdoor play can happen in any outdoor space and may be spontaneous or short-term. Forest School is more intentional. It uses the natural environment as a regular learning space, with a focus on confidence, independence, resilience, risk awareness and whole-child development.
A Forest School nursery is also not always the same as a fully outdoor nursery. We have a combination of Forest School nurseries at The Old Station Nursery. Devizes and Henley are both fully outside learning nurseries with outside classrooms, dining and facilities. We also have a number of other nurseries that Some outdoor nurseries spend most or all of the day outside, while other nurseries offer regular Forest School sessions as part of a wider early years curriculum.
Forest School is based on recognised principles, but each nursery may bring these to life in slightly different ways.
At its heart, Forest School is about regular, meaningful learning in nature. Children are given time and space to explore, use their imagination and follow their curiosity, while trained adults observe, support and gently extend their learning.
The main ideas include regular outdoor experiences, child-led exploration, nature as a teacher, supported risk-taking, holistic development, and care for the natural world. At The Old Station Nursery, this links closely with helping children become Nature Explorers and Planet Protectors.
Absolutely. A good Forest School or outdoor nursery approach can still support the Early Years Foundation Stage, often known as the EYFS.
The EYFS covers communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.
Forest School can support all of these areas. Children may build communication skills by describing what they have found, asking questions or telling stories outdoors. They may develop physical skills by climbing, balancing, carrying and digging. They may strengthen confidence and social skills by working with others, taking turns and solving problems together.
Outdoor learning can also support early literacy and maths. Children may notice patterns in leaves, count stones, compare sizes, recognise shapes, make marks in mud, listen to stories outside or use natural materials in imaginative play.
At The Old Station Nursery, children follow the core EYFS curriculum while also benefiting from safe, meaningful outdoor learning experiences. Forest School is not separate from learning. It’s one of the ways children can learn.
As a nursery manager, I love to see the positive impact Forest School has on our children. It gives them the freedom to explore, take manageable risks and develop confidence and independence in a natural environment. Watching children become excited by the outdoors, learn from their experiences and discover new things for themselves is a wonderful part of our nursery. Natasha Bishop, Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Forest School Devizes
As a nursery manager, I love to see the positive impact Forest School has on our children. It gives them the freedom to explore, take manageable risks and develop confidence and independence in a natural environment. Watching children become excited by the outdoors, learn from their experiences and discover new things for themselves is a wonderful part of our nursery.
Natasha Bishop, Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Forest School Devizes
Many parents love the idea of Forest School but still want to know whether their child will be ready for primary school.
That’s completely understandable. School readiness is not only about letters, numbers or sitting at a table. It’s also about confidence, communication, independence, curiosity, listening skills, social skills and being able to manage small challenges.
Forest School can support many of these foundations. Children learn to make choices, follow routines, listen to adults, work with friends, solve problems and become more independent.
A good early years setting will balance outdoor exploration with the wider EYFS curriculum, helping children build the everyday skills they need for their next steps.
Forest School includes supported risk-taking, but this does not mean children are put in unsafe situations.
Supported risk means giving children carefully managed opportunities to test their abilities, make decisions and build confidence. This could be climbing a little higher, balancing on uneven ground, carrying natural materials, learning how to move safely around others or using tools with close adult supervision.
These moments matter because they help children understand their own capabilities. They learn what feels safe, when to ask for help and how to approach challenges with care.
As adults, our role is to make sure children can explore and take on new challenges in a safe and supportive way. We carefully check our environment, stay close by, set clear boundaries and offer guidance when needed, while giving children the freedom to have a go, make choices and learn how to manage risks for themselves. Natasha Bishop, Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Forest School Devizes.
As adults, our role is to make sure children can explore and take on new challenges in a safe and supportive way. We carefully check our environment, stay close by, set clear boundaries and offer guidance when needed, while giving children the freedom to have a go, make choices and learn how to manage risks for themselves.
Natasha Bishop, Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Forest School Devizes.
Forest School can help children build confidence, resilience, independence, physical skills, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and curiosity about the natural world. It can also help children learn how to assess risk safely and care for nature.
For many children, it also gives them the chance to enjoy the kind of hands-on outdoor experiences that can be harder to fit into busy family life, from den building and mud play to spotting wildlife and watching the seasons change.
Children should be dressed for movement, mud and changing weather. Warm layers, waterproof clothing and wellies can help children feel comfortable outdoors. Depending on the setting, children may also wear puddle suits or other outdoor clothing.
Your nursery should explain what children need to wear, what is provided and how outdoor sessions are managed in different weather.
If you are considering a Forest School nursery, it can help to ask:
If you’re looking for more general questions to ask on a visit, give our What Questions Should You Ask When Visiting a Nursery? guide a read.
Forest School is not about children being outside for the sake of it. It’s about giving them meaningful, repeated experiences in nature that support learning, confidence and development.
At The Old Station Nursery, we have 9 Forest School nurseries, designed to help children learn through nature in a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment. Children are encouraged to explore, ask questions, take supervised risks and become more conscious of the world around them.
To find out more, explore our Forest School approach or find your nearest nursery.