The Wonderful Things project has a young sibling, Wonderful Little Things. The forest pre-school group is currently awaiting further funding now that funding from the Lottery has finished.
Wonderful Little Things, a forest pre-school and toddler group based at St Mary’s CE Primary School in Rawtenstall began in November 2013 after a successful bid to the Community Cash Awards run by the Lancashire Telegraph and the Big Lottery. Unusually, the bid required readers of the newspaper to cut out a coupon and post their vote, as opposed to voting online. This voting process shows great support for the School’s plans.
This Lottery funded group uses the enclosed safe woodland area of school grounds to give opportunities for parents and their pre-school children to engage with nature, wildlife and the outdoors in an outdoors environment. The group aims to help new parents make new bonds within their communities.
Activities offer a chance for both parents and children to experience natural play and the benefits of it. It is hoped that they will learn new skills so activities they take part in and enjoy can be carried out in time outside of the toddler group. The sessions are centred round the childhood development, offering them chances to explore the natural world, develop motor skills, aiding them in independent play and learning.
Examples of activities are outdoor storytelling, mini beast hunts, outdoor cooking, den building, model den building, wild art, mud play, flag making, leaf prints, sensory games, hide and seek. Sessions are led by a Level 3 Forest Schools Practitioner from Newground and assisted by Teaching Assistants from school.
The group has been offered for free for a year and was run in 6 session sets for 2-3 year olds and 3-4 year olds.
As our first year comes to a close, we are seeking funding to continue the sessions. If you are interested in Wonderful Little Things, call the school on 01706 216407 or email Kate Crane on k.crane@rawtenstall-st-marys.lancs.sch.uk.
This Lottery funded group uses the enclosed safe woodland area of school grounds to give opportunities for parents and their pre-school children to engage with nature, wildlife and the outdoors in an outdoors environment. The group aims to help new parents make new bonds within their communities.
Activities offer a chance for both parents and children to experience natural play and the benefits of it. It is hoped that they will learn new skills so activities they take part in and enjoy can be carried out in time outside of the toddler group. The sessions are centred round the childhood development, offering them chances to explore the natural world, develop motor skills, aiding them in independent play and learning.
Examples of activities are outdoor storytelling, mini beast hunts, outdoor cooking, den building, model den building, wild art, mud play, flag making, leaf prints, sensory games, hide and seek. Sessions are led by a Level 3 Forest Schools Practitioner from Newground and assisted by Teaching Assistants from school.
The group has been offered for free for a year and was run in 6 session sets for 2-3 year olds and 3-4 year olds.
As our first year comes to a close, we are seeking funding to continue the sessions. If you are interested in Wonderful Little Things, call the school on 01706 216407 or email Kate Crane on k.crane@rawtenstall-st-marys.lancs.sch.uk.
A selection of photos from Wonderful Little Things throughout the year
|
|
|
