Hello everyone!
It has been great to finally have a full five-day week with all the children and staff returning from their lovely winter break. There’s nothing like a busy forest full of little people exploring and embracing the natural environment. I think even our three chickens; Shadow, Marge and Michelle missed them (or maybe the tasty treats they offer!).
During our inset day we took some time to clear the very edge of the forest past the foxes’ rainbow ribbons, an area we call ‘the wilderness.’ After cutting back the brambles and checking for litter the area is set for short ‘adventure walks’, particularly over the next few weeks as we plan to do lots of birdwatching.
One secluded area of the forest is home to our shy neighbour ‘Mr Fox’ who we rarely catch a glimpse of. After receiving a wonderful gift from a parent, we may be able to capture his night-time manoeuvres using a special camera positioned in the forest. The children can then watch the footage back the next morning and observe what foxes get up to when there are no noisy humans around.
This week the children have been asking for regular updates regarding the whereabouts of our fantastic deputy manager Celine. She has been greatly missed by all the children and staff. However, after a nice long holiday visiting her homeland of the Philippines, we are pleased to announce she will be returning on Monday. Whilst I am sure she has missed us all too she might not have missed the English weather! Don’t forget your waterproofs, Celine!
Speaking of wet weather, we have had a couple of rainy days this week. These days are the most challenging for staff as setting up engaging activities during a downpour can prove tricky. Luckily, we have a nice variety of resources which can be used creatively to provide lots of fun and learning. On Tuesday we built a special water feature using a large pipe, crates, and a tuff tray. Using a variety of containers, the children enjoyed gathering up water and pouring it through the pipe, watching it descend into the tuff tray. This activity provided an opportunity to encourage mathematical language and discussions around volume, using open-ended questions such as ‘How many cups of water do you need to fill up your container?’
Have a lovely weekend!
P.S. Don’t forget to encourage your child to look out for different birds that appear in the garden and local environment. We look forward to finding out what discover!
Little Forest Folk
Twickenham