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We are proud to provide the first forest school in Talke and surrounding areas. We are lucky to have such a beautiful resource in our own grounds and access to other local natural spaces and to be able to provide this as part of our curriculum. We believe in the philosophy which underpins Forest School, to encourage and inspire children to develop their personal, social and emotional skills through participation in tasks and activities.
Utilising our Forest School as part of our curriculum will further provide unique opportunities to engage with nature, explore and enquire, developing language and reasoning skills, independence, perseverance and risk management skills. We will do this through child lead, staff lead activities and group work, providing hands on experience and outcomes discovered by the child.
As with all aspects of our curriculum, we aim to raise our children’s self-esteem, to encourage our children to become emotionally resilient and independent, and to be empathetic towards others, which in turn will enable more effective learning as they take ownership of their learning and the confident to have a go and learn from their mistakes.
At Hilltop Tots Day Nursery in Talke, Stoke-on-Trent, we’re thrilled to introduce our newest additions, Michael and Martin, our playful pygmy goats! They’re here to support our children’s emotional growth, teaching them responsibility, empathy, and helping with stress and anxiety. Our Forest School program complements this, offering unique learning experiences in a natural environment that fosters personal, social, and emotional skills.
Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
Improved social skills
The development of language and communication skills
Improved physical motor skills
Improved motivation and concentration
Increased knowledge and understanding of the environment
Climbing trees
Making dens
Exploring the woodland
Planting and growing crops and plants
Getting messy and creative in areas such as the mud kitchen
Learning about fire safety through cooking on a fire
Exploring the river and streams in activities such as pond dipping
Learning about and investigating insects, animals, plants and trees
Working as a team and practising problem-solving
Learning about the natural environment and the impact of our actions
Welcome to our little piece of paradise, our nursery woodland. A place where our nursery wildlings roam free, laughter fills the air, and nature is part of every moment. Among blossoming trees and dancing butterflies, our pony, ducks, chickens, and goats wander gently through our woodland—just as curious and joyful as the children who come to learn and explore. With peaceful ponds, petals drifting on the breeze, and endless space to explore, this is more than a nursery garden… it’s a magical world where little ones grow, play, and belong. Come and discover the wonder with us!
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