North Bristol’s first outdoor nursery has extended its age intake and opening hours due to overwhelming demand from local families.
Little Foxes Forest School aims to immerse children in nature, using the forest and surrounding Bristol countryside as its classroom rather than the traditional indoor teaching setting.
The pre-school has been looking after three and four year old children since opening in January 2018, but will be extending the age range and opening hours after overwhelming demand and a three year-long waiting list for the pre-school.
From November 2018, Little Foxes Forest School will start taking two and three year olds and is expecting to double its total intake as a result. The nursery will also offer extended hours, opening from 8am-5.30pm during term time.
Founded and run by primary school teachers with over 25 years combined experience, children are taught the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum by using nature and the outdoor environment. Children learn den-building, foraging, outdoor cooking, woodwork and mud painting and are taught in rain or shine, using tents and trees for shelter when needed.
Janie Ankers, Co-Founder, explained, “We have been overwhelmed by the support, interest and feedback from Bristol families and are extending our services in response. Our waiting list is well over a year and increasing every week.
“We are very excited to be able to welcome younger children and increase our hours to meet this demand. Parents can sign up today to secure places for our first intake of Mini Foxes in November. They will also then be the first in line to join the waiting list for the pre-school and graduate to be Little Foxes!”
Lizzie Staite, Co-Founder, added, “We are really proud to be the only outdoor nursery in the Bristol area that is offering such a full service to local parents.
“We have seen with our own eyes the power of teaching children outside, using what we find in the natural environment as the tools for learning. They are happier, healthy, more confident and engaged. Children are natural explorers and they thrive in the outdoors.”