Rydal Penrhos Pre-School has the most incredible woodland area available on site and the coast is only a few hundred metres away and so it is a natural progression for us to have developed comprehensive ‘Forest School’ and ‘Coastal School’ provisions.

These exciting natural environments focus on providing a safe outdoor learning experience, one in which children are encouraged to explore, discover, investigate and to take suitable risks.

What could be a better way for children to learn than being outside and discovering things for themselves?

Our chosen theme may be based on a personal attribute, such as co-operation or creativity; helping to encourage personal development; or it may be based on a curriculum topic –mathematics, history, art or science; or it may be more overtly about the forest or coast – wildlife, habitats, trees, sticks, water, general beach ecology or weather-related.

Whatever the theme, our Forest School and Coastal School offers all the children wonderful opportunities for learning at many levels.

Weekly Sessions

Pre-School children attend sessions in these areas on a weekly basis, whatever the weather!

The Forest School programme originated in Scandinavia and is underpinned by research into the learning behaviour of children at an early age and how best to develop this. The fundamental aims of which are to develop:

• Self-awareness.
• Self-regulation.
• Intrinsic motivation.
• Empathy.
• Good social communication skills.
• Independence.
• A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence.
• A healthy respect for the natural environment.