Forest House Playgroup – where little ones thrive in nature.

Give your child a childhood that happens outdoors through safe nature-based learning on Constantia’s greenbelt.

Our approach to learning

• Our forest school follows a forest school and Reggio Emilia approach to learning.
• These pedagogies combined form a magical way of learning.
• We’re a child-led and play-based natural school where children have the opportunity to grow into their unique being.
• We foster a sense of community as children are equipped to learn and play collaboratively.
• We learn through play and exploration and by following children’s interests.
• Our role as educators is to observe and support each child in their development.
• With encouragement, role-modelling and curiosity, play transforms into deep and meaningful learning opportunities.
• We as educators share a reflective attitude and continually adapt and change with the group and learn from experience. We embrace play in our own lives and we continue to develop our inner child.
• We focus on the emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, communication and language development of children: the whole child.

A typical day at Forest House

Each day at our forest school is a unique journey of discovery. Our program is designed to nurture your child’s natural curiosity and love of learning.

Our daily routines include:

Circle Time: We start with movement, music, and mindfulness to foster a sense of community and prepare for the day’s adventures.

Forest Exploration: Immerse in nature through free play and guided activities tailored to your child’s interests and developmental stages.

Creative Expression: Stimulate imagination and critical thinking with hands-on projects inspired by our outdoor experiences.

Story Time and Refreshments: Wind down the day with storytelling and wholesome treats.

Child-Centered Learning: Our curriculum is built around your child’s individual needs and passions. We believe that spending quality time outdoors, exploring nature, and engaging in creative play is essential for holistic development.

Cognitive Development: Children develop better cognition through experiential learning, engaging their whole bodies and senses. Developing language, vocabulary, and numeracy outdoors is captivating!

Tracking Your Child’s Learning Journey

We understand the importance of keeping parents informed about their child’s forest school experience. To ensure transparency and open communication, we implement the following:

• Regular Journal Updates: Every month, we share a Forest House Journal with the parents – a collection of photos capturing the playgroup’s adventures and learning moments. It includes beautiful photos, funny quotes by the kids and a detailed overview highlighting key activities and developments.
• Individual Learning Reports: At the end of term 2 and 4, parents receive a personalised written report outlining their child’s growth and achievements. These journals provide valuable insights into your child’s learning journey.
• Weekly WhatsApp updates: Pictures and important need to knows to a small parents only WhatsApp group
• Parent-Teacher Meetings: At the end of term 1 and 3, we meet up in person to discuss anything prevalent.

By combining visual and written communication, we aim to provide parents with a comprehensive understanding of their child’s progress in our forest school program