Research School Network: Understanding the World EYFS Statutory Educational Programme

• ‘Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them’
  
  Through the East of England Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, we have launched a Forest School for Childminders monthly drop-in session.
  
  Why?
  
  Childminders tell us that it is expensive and difficult to access training when they have their minded children all day. To address this, the hub funds qualified level 3 Forest School Leaders, a venue and the resources to deliver sessions for childminders to access with their minded children.
  
  Children are engaging in the natural world whilst being exposed to a rich, exploratory language. This enriching and widening of children’s vocabulary will support later reading comprehension. (Development Matters, 2021).
  
  Forest School sessions also build:
• Social skills – children gain increased awareness of the consequences of their actions through team activities, such as sharing tools and participating in group play
• Confidence – children have the freedom of time and space as well as the opportunity to develop independence
• Communication – Language development was prompted by children’s sensory experiences – from putting feet in muddy puddles, touching moss on trees or rolling a log to find the teeming woodlice living below.
• Physical skills – both gross and fine motor skills are developed, as well as stamina. Using tweezers to collect petals for a potion up to dragging logs, building rope swings and dens all support the muscle development needed to enable young children to write successfully.
• Motivation – both children and their childminders were fascinated by being in the natural world and closely watching the changing flora and fauna as seasons change. Childminders have returned to the sessions each month and have reported being more aware of the outdoors since starting the sessions.

Children are given the opportunity and freedom to explore with all of their senses; including vestibular and proprioceptive senses; to create diverse, creative and imaginative play.

Childminders tell us that they value the chance to explore and be outdoors with their children whilst accessing a well-resourced site and are developing their understanding of how Forest Schools links to all seven areas of the early years curriculum.

To join the Stronger Practice Hub, please use this link:

East of England EY Stronger Practice Hub – Sign up

You can also view more information about the hub at:

Highfield Nursery School – Stronger Practice Hub