Our emphasis at our sessions, whether they are during school time, at an afterschool club or during full days at holiday camps is always on children leading the way. This empowers them to direct their own learning in fun ways which enable them to discover what excites them, explore their interests and play in a way that suits them rather than being prescribed what they should do and how they should do it. We believe this supports their independence as well as enabling them to quickly gain or hone skills such as confidence, resilience, perseverance and communication. Read more about the value of free play and how it benefits child development here and about what goes on at our Forest School sessions here.
The Green Planet team prepares for sessions by setting up stations or situations such as for whittling, fire lighting, campfire cooking, shelter building, crafting, tree climbing, construction using tools, and supports children on whichever activity they choose to explore. In order to fully appreciate the range of fun activities on offer, a very detailed list of those activities and their benefit to child development can be found here. Of course all of this goes on in a woodland area giving access to nature which itself is both a great educator and an amazing place to play.
Green Planet Forest School sessions are for children aged 4 – 13 (in Reception FS2 to Year 8) – Children must have started Reception at the time of the event you are booking. We cannot accept bookings for children that have not yet started Reception, or that have completed Year 8. Our Holiday and After School Clubs are designed to foster independence in children, therefore it is not possible or required for parents to stay or attend. Our Home Education sessions are slightly different, and are Adult Accompanied where a parent is also required to stay. We do not offer toddler or pre-school sessions.
A great deal of effort goes in to making sure your children are safe both physically and emotionally at our Forest School sessions. There is a great deal of development potential in children taking risks, physical risks like learning to stand up and walk or emotional risks like learning to meet new people and experience new things for example, our highly trained, qualified and experienced team ensure that any risks are minimal and rewards are maximum. Our risk assessment policy document is available on request, just contact us and we’ll be happy to share it or discuss it further.
All sessions are led by a qualified Forest School Leader and the team are all safeguarding and paediatric first aid trained. Executive Director Alex (Mr Mud) is also a children’s mental health ambassador and teaches children practices such as mindfulness and grounding to support their mental wellbeing and help them deal with challenges they may face.
At all times of the year closed shoes, long trousers and long sleeves are the minimum. This reduces the chances of injury from brambles, nettles and insect bites. We also recommend sending spare clothes which can be used to layer up if the weather turns cold or be used to replace wet clothes should we experience rain or splash a little too hard in muddy puddles.
During the colder Autumn and Winter months sessions do still go ahead in almost all weather conditions [more here] and so to keep everyone warm and toastie we have some specific recommendations for clothing and footwear which is covered in this post.
No. We do not allow any child attending our clubs to bring with them tools or equipment of any kind, including knives, for safety and safeguarding reasons. Any tools or provisions required for an activity at our Forest School clubs, will be provided by us to ensure they are suitable and safe for the required task, that they are used in a safe area with proper PPE, and only used under supervision by our qualified Forest School Leaders.
Please send your child with a hearty packed lunch** and plenty of snacks as they will burn lots of energy outdoors playing all day. Please send a refillable plastic water bottle which is labelled (we are happy to refill these throughout the day). Please note that all settings are NUT FREE. Please do not send any glass bottles or containers.
** There may be the occasional special themed day where we include a campfire lunch, but this will be clearly stated on the event page and booking confirmation email**
Children with SEND needs are welcome and well supported at our sessions, and from experience they usually excel in the Forest School environment. If your child has 1:1 support during schooltime or has very specific or complex needs, please contact us before booking to have a chat about how we can support them at a Forest School session – please note we are unable to offer 1:1 support but we will try our very best to support your child if possible.
Due to the nature of some of our sites, access for those with limited mobility or in a wheelchair, may be difficult, especially in wetter weather. Please contact us to discuss your individual needs before making a booking, so we can fully support your child.
For our holiday clubs, we welcome any child from any education setting, either locally or further afield, from reception to year 8. This means siblings or friends who attend different schools can all attend together.
For our After School Clubs, the child will need to attend the school at which the sessions are held.
For safety and safeguarding reasons, no amendments can be made to a Booking with less than one full working before your booking commences. Working days are 8am until 5pm Monday-Friday, working days do not include Saturdays, Sundays or bank holidays.
Our clubs are full days, they are not drop-in sessions, or wrap around child care. Only the stated session times on the booking portal are available for drop off and collection i.e. 09:00-15:00 or 08:00-16:00.
Due to safety and staffing, is not possible to drop off and/or collect at times different to the slot you have booked. For safety and safeguarding, children need to be in attendance at the times on the register which matches your booking, therefore any any variation of these times is not possible, and you are not able to choose a time different to those stated, or pick and choose a time between those hours.
These are the start and finish times of the sessions, and activities for the day are scheduled accordingly. There is a very important induction and safety talk at the beginning of each session which all children need to attend so your child must arrive for your booked time i.e. at 8am or 9am.
Your child may also find it difficult to integrate with the group and other children if they have not been there from the start, so it is not possible to join outside of these times or to alter your drop off and collection times from the set times available/booked.
Please be prompt for your booked drop off and collection times. Due to the nature and locations of the Forest School sites, staff are only able to be at the gates at either 8am or 9am, and 3pm or 4pm. If you arrive late for a session, please call us and wait until it is possible for a team member to leave the site and come to meet you. All sites close at 4pm so a later pick up is not an option.
For sessions at Evenley Wood Gardens: the Forest School site is set deep within the Gardens which is a fair walk from the entrance, so if you arrive late and we have already set off, it may not be possible for your child to join the group. The Gardens close at 4pm.
Yes you can for Summer and Easter holidays at selected sites. If available, you will be able to find them via the HAF booking system, listed under our group name S4A and those that state ‘Forest School HAF Programme’ in the name.
We do not run sessions for birthday parties or other social occasions. We are super busy every weekday throughout term-time and run clubs most days of the school holidays, so unfortunately we are not able to offer parties.
For safety and safeguarding reasons, no amendments can be made to a Booking with less than one full working day before your booking commences. Working days are 8am until 5pm Monday-Friday, working days do not include Saturdays, Sundays or bank holidays. Please see above section re drop off and collection times, as only the set session times stated are available.
Our full Terms and Conditions can be found here. We do not issue refunds for cancellations. However, we do offer the flexibility to transfer cancelled sessions to another day (subject to availability) or to receive a credit note for a future Green Planet session, which remains valid for six months from the date of issue. To qualify for a full credit, you must notify us by email at least one full working day before your booking commences. Unfortunately, if the cancellation or amendment occurs less than one full working day before your booking commences, on the day, or after the session has started, or at any point during the booked day, no credit or transfer will be issued.
We offer the flexibility to transfer your session to a different time slot on the same day, but only from the session options available, and subject to availability. To qualify for a swap you must notify us by email at least one full working day before your booking commences. Unfortunately, if the request is made less than one full working day before your booking commences, on the day, or after the session has started, or at any point during the booked day, no transfer will be available. Any difference in price will have to be paid within 24hours. Please see the Payments section in our Terms and Conditions for full details. If the swap is of a lower value, a credit towards a future Green Planet session, will be added to your account, which remains valid for six months from the date of issue.
(This is also the onsite contact number for our holiday clubs)
