What is Forest Childcare?
Forest childcare is a best practice initiative for all early years providers who want to offer regular trips to explore the great outdoors for the children they care for. It’s based on the ideas practiced by Forest Schools which are starting to pop up in the UK and are run by qualified Forest School Level 3 Practitioners.
Forest Childcare is about more than children being outside in the garden or on the school run, it’s about committing to regular outings to the woods, going on walks to nature reserves, parks and green spaces. It’s about giving children the opportunity to explore and discover the great outdoors where they can learn to manage their own risks and where they can learn to appreciate and care for the natural environment around them.
The Five Principles of Forest Childcare
Forest Childcare has 5 principles that those practicing Forest Childcare agree to:
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The Forest Childcare Provider takes the children to an outdoor environment normally once a week.
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Forest Childcare outings are made as safe as is reasonably possible by the childcare provider while encouraging children to learn to take their own risks.
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Forest Childcare outings are taken all year long, so children go outside whatever the weather.
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The Forest Childcare Provider offers a mixture of planned and child-led play activities to the children.
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The Forest Childcare Provider is first aid certified.
