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Our weekly after-school Forest School sessions run as part of our usual after-school club, giving children the opportunity to explore nature and learn new practical skills in a fun, supportive environment.
Through hands-on outdoor activities, we foster confidence and independence while encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a love of the natural world. Sessions are child-led and entirely optional, in line with the Forest School ethos, allowing every child to participate at their own pace.
Starting September 2025 as part of the Smartkidz after-school club.
Our younger explorers focus on developing fundamental outdoor skills through play-based learning and exploration, including:
Wildlife identification – exploring plants, trees, insects, and other wildlife found around the school grounds
Knot tying for creativity and basic shelter building
Safe tool use, including log splitters, hand drills, and hammers
Shelter building using tarps and natural materials
Fire lighting and simple campfire snacks such as marshmallows, bread, and soups
These sessions are all about enjoying the outdoor environment with no pressure to join in. Children are encouraged to have fun and try something new, whether that means diving straight in or observing from a distance.
Older children develop more advanced outdoor skills and techniques, building confidence and teamwork through greater responsibility and challenge:
Deeper exploration of local flora and fauna, including how ecosystems work
Advanced knot tying, such as knots for swings or bridges
Further tool use, including saws and whittling with knives
Shelter building challenges, including weatherproof shelters (on suitable days)
Advanced fire lighting and fire maintenance
Campfire cooking, including simple snacks and food safety
These sessions encourage children to take the lead, work together, and push their boundaries while still participating at a level that feels right for them.
All sessions are led by experienced and dedicated educators who hold Forest School Level 3 qualifications and appropriate first aid training.
This ensures sessions are safe, well-structured, and designed to help children grow through taking managed risks, such as supervised tool use, within a supportive and enjoyable environment.
We follow the WILD Passport outdoor learning framework, a structured progression programme that allows children to track their development through a personal logbook.
Skills are developed across five key areas:
Woodcraft
Nature
Fire
Shelter
Rope
Progress is celebrated with certificates, recognising each child’s achievements and supporting continued motivation.
Forest School and outdoor learning offer far more than just an after-school activity. They support personal development by:
Boosting confidence and independence through skill-building
Encouraging resilience and teamwork through practical problem-solving
Improving physical health and motor skills
Sparking creativity and curiosity
Strengthening a child’s connection with nature, which has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health
Children learn valuable life skills such as cooking and knot tying while gaining a sense of adventure and accomplishment that can be harder to achieve in the classroom. They’ll come home excited, proud, and maybe a little muddy – signs of a great session of learning by doing.
Book onto either or both Monday and Friday sessions
Prepare for an adventure – after booking, you’ll receive details on what your child should bring, such as appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear
All equipment and materials, including tools and fire-lighting kits, are provided. Children simply need to come dressed for the weather and ready to explore.
Please note: There is no extra cost for these sessions.
Spaces may be limited, so early booking is recommended. Sessions run during term time throughout the year, rain or shine, with activities adapted to suit the weather – because in Forest School, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only learning opportunities.
If you have any questions about the sessions or the enrolment process, please contact the Smartkidz team at: info@smartkidzplayandlearn.co.uk
