Our Youngest Explorers

At Jack and Gill Childcare and Forest School, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to develop a meaningful connection with the natural world.

Our youngest children enjoy a calm, nurturing nursery environment where their individual routines for feeding, sleeping and play are carefully supported by their key person. Alongside this, they are gently introduced to age-appropriate outdoor experiences that encourage curiosity, confidence and wellbeing.

As children grow in confidence and are developmentally ready, they gradually begin exploring our dedicated woodland, allowing them to experience the wonder of nature in a safe, supportive and enjoyable way.

Why Nature Matters in the Early Years

Educational pioneers including Friedrich Froebel, Maria Montessori and Margaret McMillan all recognised the importance of outdoor experiences, freedom of movement and learning through first-hand exploration.

Young children learn by touching, moving, listening, watching and investigating the world around them. Nature provides endless opportunities for this kind of meaningful learning, whether it is watching leaves move in the breeze, listening to birdsong or discovering the changing seasons.

These experiences help children develop confidence, resilience, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

The Benefits of Outdoor Learning

Time spent outdoors helps young children to:

• develop balance, coordination and physical confidence
• explore a rich variety of textures, sounds, colours and natural materials
• build resilience and independence through new experiences
• support emotional wellbeing and reduce stress
• develop language through shared discoveries and conversations
• foster curiosity and an appreciation of the natural world

Gentle Outdoor Experiences

Our youngest children enjoy carefully planned outdoor experiences that may include:

• listening to birdsong and the wind through the trees
• watching sunlight filter through the leaves
• exploring seasonal colours, scents and textures
• collecting and investigating natural treasures such as leaves, pinecones and feathers
• sharing stories, songs and imaginative play outdoors
• enjoying walks and fresh air as part of their daily routine

Every experience is carefully supervised and tailored to each child's age, stage of development and individual needs.

Growing Together

As children become older and more confident, their outdoor adventures naturally grow with them. They begin to spend more time in our woodland, where they develop practical skills, resilience, independence and a deeper understanding of the world around them through meaningful, hands-on experiences.

At Jack and Gill Childcare and Forest School, we believe childhood should be filled with fresh air, adventure, discovery and wonder—creating happy, confident children with a lifelong connection to nature.

Where even the smallest explorers begin their journey.