A child-led, play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired forest school is an approach to learning where children explore and discover at their own pace in a natural environment. It values their curiosity, interests, and ideas as the starting point for meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. Unlike traditional methods that often focus on structured lessons and predetermined outcomes, this approach encourages children to take the lead, fostering creativity, resilience, and critical thinking. By connecting with nature and engaging in self-directed play, children develop a deep love for learning and build essential life skills in a way that feels joyful and empowering. It’s a space where their voices are heard, and their individuality is celebrated.

Your child’s safety is our top priority at Forest Atelier, and we take a comprehensive approach to ensure it at every session.

Each session is overseen by a certified child first aid practitioner, ensuring immediate care and support in case of any incidents.

Our sessions are held in shaded areas of the forest to minimise direct sun exposure. We schedule breaks for hydration and rest and conduct water parades where children are encouraged to sip water regularly.

In addition to insect repellent, we also use mosquito coils around our gathering areas to reduce mosquito activity.

Tools are only introduced to children who have undergone safety training and have demonstrated understanding. All tool use requires safety gear and is closely supervised.

The facilitator-to-child ratio is kept small to ensure close monitoring of all participants.

Before each session, we carefully assess the site for potential hazards, including dangerous terrain, unstable trees, and risky weather conditions, dangerous insects and animals, ensuring the environment is safe and suitable for exploration. We also teach children to identify and assess risks themselves, empowering them to make safe choices and develop critical thinking skills.

- Long-sleeved shirts and long pants to shield them from the sun, mosquitoes and other insects.

- A wide-brimmed hat or cap

- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes

- Please pack a raincoat or poncho as we often embrace the rain as part of the experience!

- Your child should bring a water bottle to stay hydrated and a snack that meets their dietary needs, as we’ve found this is the best way to accommodate allergies and preferences.

- It’s also helpful to apply child-safe mosquito repellent and sunscreen before the session begins.

Rest assured, we’ll provide plenty of opportunities for shade, hydration, and breaks to ensure they stay happy and comfortable while exploring the rainforest.

Open-ended play is a vital part of your child’s development, as it allows them to follow their natural curiosities, explore their own ideas, and problem-solve without the constraints of set rules or outcomes. Research shows that this type of play fosters creativity, critical thinking, resilience and adaptability—skills that are essential for lifelong learning and success. It also encourages self-motivation and confidence, as children make their own decisions and take the lead in their play. Studies have found that through open-ended play, children develop social and emotional skills like collaboration, empathy, and resilience. Most importantly, it nurtures their natural curiosity and love for learning, laying a strong foundation for both academic and personal growth.

At Forest Atelier, we embrace the philosophy that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad preparation—except, of course, in the case of lightning. If it’s raining, our sessions will continue with proper preparation, including ensuring all children have raincoats and putting up our shelter. However, if lightning is forecasted before the session begins, we will cancel the session for everyone’s safety, as storms can be unpredictable. In such cases, you’ll be notified before 7:30 AM, and we’ll work with you to reschedule or provide a credit for the missed session. Safety always comes first, but we also aim to keep the joy and excitement of nature exploration alive, even in the rain!

We offer make-up lessons so they can join another session when they’re ready. For situations where a make-up session isn’t possible, we’ll provide a credit note for future use, allowing you the flexibility to rebook at a time that works for your family.

3 to 7 years of age

There is a maximum ratio of 5 children to every facilitator

Forest Atelier nurtures essential skills that prepare children for success in traditional school settings and beyond. Research shows that child-led, play-based learning helps develop critical skills like self-regulation, problem-solving, and a growth mindset, which are foundational for academic achievement. By fostering curiosity and independence, children build a strong sense of self-motivation and adaptability, making transitions into structured environments smoother and less intimidating. Your child will not only be ready for traditional schooling but will thrive as a confident, resilient, and enthusiastic learner.

Children will explore science, math, and history in natural, meaningful ways that spark their curiosity and love for learning. Through hands-on experiences in nature, they observe patterns, test ideas, and solve problems—building foundational skills in areas like measurement, observation, and critical thinking, which are key to math and science. History comes alive as we explore the natural world’s evolutionary stories, tools used by early humans, and the connections between people and their environments. Research shows that when children engage in learning through play and exploration, they develop a deeper understanding and long-term retention of concepts. With my degree in mathematics and my lifelong passion for science and history, I’m excited to weave these subjects into our sessions in ways that feel joyful, engaging, and empowering.

After each session, you’ll receive a summary of what we explored that day, along with photos capturing the joy, curiosity, and discoveries your child experienced. Additionally, we maintain a private record of each child’s individual moments—what they did, said, or expressed—so you can track their progress and growth over time. This allows you to see how their unique interests are developing and how they are engaging with the world around them. Our goal is to ensure you feel as much a part of their learning adventure as they do!

While children are free to follow their interests and make discoveries, we observe closely and step in with gentle guidance when needed to extend their learning or ensure safety. This approach encourages independence and creativity while ensuring that their exploration is purposeful and supported. We also model problem-solving and critical thinking, helping your child build the skills to navigate challenges on their own.

For children who need a bit more structure, we adapt our approach to provide just enough scaffolding to help them feel confident and inspired.