Home Educators' Forest School
We have been offering forest school for home-educators at Stanmer Organics for over 10 years.
With parents rating us 5 Stars, we run all year round forest school and holiday clubs which are open to all.
Why parents love Wilderdays...
"Wilderdays fosters a supportive and nurturing environment, which lets the kids really be who they are. Fun, play, learning new skills, being with friends in nature are vital things to help them thrive and grow." James G.
Below is some important information about how our Forest School groups run and what you can expect. Please have a read to see if it feels like the right fit for your family, and then get in touch if you have any questions or would like to book a trial.
Hello and welcome to Wilderdays Forest School!
Our Forest School
Forest School is a long-term approach to learning in a woodland or natural environment, supporting children to develop their own relationship with nature and giving them opportunities to take supported risks, explore and learn at their own pace.
At Wilderdays, we are particularly interested in child-led learning and learning through play. We explore nature, arts and crafts, bushcraft skills, natural cycles, ancient traditions and festivals, while learning to tread lightly and respectfully on this beautiful earth. We aim to connect children with nature and give them skills and experiences that they will carry with them for life. We want to build confidence, nurture their interests, challenge them and support them as they grow.
We welcome feedback and open communication, so please do let me know if there is anything about your child that you think it would be useful for me to know. We love hearing about your child's passions and what you would like them to get out of Forest School.
Some parents want their children to have as much freedom as possible to connect with nature in their own way. Others would like more directed learning and opportunities to develop skills such as bushcraft or creative activities. We aim to offer a balance of both.
Useful Information
Session times
Monday morning
10:30-13:30 (ages 5-12)
Monday afternoon
14:15-17:00 (ages 5-12)
All day Monday
10:30-17:00 (ages 5-12)
Tuesday morning
10:30-13:30 (ages 5-12)
Prices
Keeping forest school affordable is important to us. We operate on a tiered pricing policy for our morning and afternoon sessions -
Half Day - £20
All Day Monday - £34
20% discount on booking siblings
What to bring
Forest School happens in all but the most extreme weather, so being dressed for the conditions makes a huge difference to how much your child enjoys their time outside. Season appropriate clothing but best to wear long tops and trousers whatever the weather to protect against nettles and scratches. Waterproof coat and trousers if wet weather. Warm clothes including thermal underwear on cold days. Suitable, closed toe shoes or wellington boots (brambles, nettles, mud, uneven ground). Packed lunch (appetites are often increased in the forest!) Water bottle/drink. Any necessary medication. Remember that appetites are often increased in the forest!
Parent participation
The aim is for children to be dropped off. However, you are welcome to attend as many sessions as you wish while your child settles in and becomes happy to be left. In busier groups, parents may be asked to take turns staying and supporting the group. There will be a rota if this is needed. If you are staying to help, please stay for 15 minutes after the session in the morning and arrive 15 minutes early in the afternoon.
Communication
We communicate to the group primarily through WhatsApp. We use this to keep you informed about upcoming sessions, payments and anything else you need to know. We will often check in the day before, particularly if bad weather is expected or if we're bringing food or drinks. Please make sure you check your messages the day before and again in the morning before setting off.
Weather & Cancellations
Forest School goes ahead in most weather conditions. The main exception is high winds, when the risks of being in the woods become too high. Please make sure you are available to check your messages before leaving home in case a session has been cancelled. Full details are included in the Bad Weather and Cancellation Policy
Arrivals
Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the session. We begin each session with a circle and a chat. This is a very unifying and settling exercise for the children, and children who arrive late miss out on this important part of the session and can disturb the group. If you are late, please don't assume we will be at the fire circle. Sometimes we go for walks or use other parts of the site. You will need to walk your child down from the car park and make sure that an adult is there to receive them. I will message the night before if we are planning to leave the site for a walk and, if you arrive after that time, we may already have left. Stanmer Park is a public park, so please never drop your child at the car park and send them down to the site without checking that an adult is there to receive them.
Directions
Our sessions take place at the Brighton Permaculture Trust forest garden site at the top of Stanmer Park. What3Words: relax.calm.barn Google Maps: Patchway Car Park By Car Drive to the back of Stanmer Park, past Stanmer House. Turn right after Stanmer House and then immediately left into Patchway Car Park, where there is paid parking. Parking is operated by Brighton & Hove City Council. Please note: the ticket machines do not accept cash and there is no card machine, so you will need to pay using PayByPhone. It is best to register for PayByPhone before your first visit. You can also register when you park. By Bus The number 78 bus runs approximately every hour and will take you to the church near the new car park. Walking to Our Site Make your way to the orange shipping container in Patchway Car Park. Take the track to the left of the container and follow it to the end. Turn right and walk up the track until you reach the metal gate to Stanmer Organics.
