About Us
What is the ethos of Foresteers?
At Foresteers, we believe every child is naturally curious, imaginative, and eager to explore—and that every child can thrive when given the freedom and space to connect with nature. Does your child pick up a stick and transform it into a flagpole, a helicopter, or a magic wand? Do they stop to wonder what kind of tree they’re passing, or gaze out the window wishing they were outdoors? If so, they’re already a Foresteer at heart. We invite them to join us in our magical woodland, where minds and senses are free to wander, imagination has no limits, and creativity comes alive.
Our ethos centres on nurturing each child’s holistic development through meaningful, positive relationships with nature. In the peaceful surroundings of the forest—with birdsong above and leaves rustling in the breeze—children embark on a journey of discovery and exploration. They learn to take pride in their achievements, reflect on their growing skills, and step confidently into new challenges alongside their peers. Mistakes become learning moments, and taking supported risks helps build resilience and self-belief.
Our experienced practitioners gently guide and extend each child’s learning through hands-on discovery. Children are introduced to new skills and encouraged to develop them in ways that genuinely interest them. As they grow, we progress towards experiences like tool use and fire—always at a pace that is right for the group. Every activity is thoughtfully designed to be both achievable and stretching, helping children build confidence as they master new challenges. At Foresteers, it’s their learning journey—and we empower them to lead it, knowing that in the right environment, every child can truly thrive.
Who is the team behind Foresteers?
“Learning does not have to stay confined to the classroom”
Name: Rohan Wilson (Director)
Experience: I have 10 years experience working as a Senior Learning Mentor in a Sheffield Primary SchooI where I undertook my Forest School Training. I used it as an intervention but quickly came to see the importance of it for all. I was also the Child Protection lead Officer and was involved with reviewing and implementing policies and procedures to keep children safe and healthy.
Qualifications: BSc Outdoor Education and Science, Forest School Level 3, Forest School First Aid, Paediatric First Aid, Food Safety (Level 2), Advanced Safeguarding, Awareness of Child Abuse, Safeguarding and Neglect, Sustained Shared Thinking, Characteristics of Effective Learning, Prevent Duty, Forest School Trainer
Favourite animal: dog
Favourite colour: blue
Name: Hayley Smith (Managing Director and SENCo, DSL, Forest School and Outdoor Trainer)
Experience: I am a qualified teacher and have a number of years experience been an Early Years Foundation Stage Leader.
I have worked with children from birth to 15 from a range of backgrounds and firmly believe that children develop best when they feel happy and safe and the teaching is personalised to their interest.
Qualifications: BA Geography, PGCE Early Years, SENCo level 4, Forest School Level 3, Forest School First Aid, Paediatric First Aid, Food Safety (Level 2), Basic Safeguarding, Advanced Safeguarding, Awareness of Child Abuse, Safeguarding and Neglect, ACERs, Sustained Shared Thinking, Characteristics of Effective Learning, Prevent Duty, Safer Sleep, Safer Recuirtment Forest School Trainer
Favourite animal: hedgehog
Favourite colour: red
Name: Eliza Barlow (Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Experience: For the last 14 years I have worked at an Infant school working across the age range of 3-7 and I have a wealth of experience in both Early Years and Key Stage 1.
I have been an EYFS Leader for a number of years and have knowledge of the statutory guidance for the Foundation Stage, Development Matters, assessment and reporting procedures and safeguarding.
Qualifications: BA(Hons) Primary Teaching, Safeguarding Level 3 and Leadership, ACEs, Safer Sleep, Food Safety and Hygiene level 2, Allergen Awareness, pPaediatric and Forest School First Aid, Forest School Level 3 Leader, Radicalisation & Extremism, Safer Recruitment
Favourite animal: cat
Favourite colour: purple
Name: Richard (Jack) Smith (Early Years Educator Apprentice)
After having 3 of my own little Foresteers I’m excited to join the team! I’ve alway had a passion for the outdoors and often found fly fishing in Bealey woods or mountain biking in Wharncliffe woods. Foresteers is the perfect place to blend early years education and my love for the woods. Outside of my little ones and hobbies I’m a mentor for families going through adoption and fostering.
Qualifications: Paediatric and Forest School First Aid, Food Heath and Hygiene Level 2, Allergen Awareness Level 2, Safeguarding Level 3, Safer Sleeping
Favourite animal: – hammer head shark
Name: Petra Ducho (Early Years Educator)
Experience: I’m a qualified kindergarten teacher and have 20 years experience in education in Austria. I have worked with children from the age 3 to 6 in kindergarten and also supported children in Primary and Secondary School as a teaching assistant.
In 2020 I moved to England. I always wanted to work in a Forest School because I think teaching and supporting children in a natural environment gives a broader range of amazing opportunities for them to learn.
Qualifications: RFQ Level 5/ SCQF, Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding ( Level3),Food Safety (Level2), Safer Sleeping for Babies, SENCo Level 3, Forest School Level 3 Leader, Supporting Children with Emotional Wellbeing
Favourite animal: polar bear
Favourite colour: blue
Name: Rosie Sykes (Early Years Educator Apprentice)
Experience:I love exploring nature and wildlife. My favourite animal is a black bear, as they love swimming and exploring like me! My favorite color is green just like a forest. When I’m not reading a book, I love watching ice hockey and Formula One racing, seeing those cars zoom around is just mind-blowing. I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you and sharing some awesome forest school experiences together!
Qualifications: Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprentice, Food Safety and Allergen Awareness level 2 , Paediatric and Forest School First Aid,
Safeguarding level 3, Radicilaistion and Extremism.
Favourite animal: black bear
Favourite colour: green
Name: Emma Taylor (Deputy Manager and Deputy DSL)
Name: Orla Mulhall (Early Years Educator Apprentice)
Experience :
Name: Sarah Watson (Deputy Manager Deputy SENCo and Safeguarding Deputy)
Throughout my career I have worked with young children aged 0-10 year old, both in traditional school settings as a qualified teacher, as well as a baby, preschool, and children’s swimming instructor. I have two young children and two crazy dogs. As a family we love exploring the outdoors and getting muddy boots/paws. I encourage my children to take logical risks and challenges to help develop their self – esteem, and confidence. I’m eager to start work at foresteers and support children with their learning and development.
Qualifications: QTS, Level 3 Safeguarding, Level 2 Food Health and Hygiene, Food Allergy Awareness, Paediatric and Forest School First Aid, Forest School Level 3 Leader, ACEs, Prevent Duty.
Name: Kate Waddington (Early Years Educator)
I am a qualified teacher and Level 3 Foerst School Leader. I have taught English in a secondary school for 6 years. I Love being outdoors, particularly by the sea, as well as in the woods! I’m at my happiest in St Ives where I love spending time with my 3 adventurous children.
Qualifications: QTS, Level 3 Foerst school Leader, Safegurding Advanced, ACEs, Level 2 Food Health and Safety, Food Allergy Awarness, Speak up for Sheffield, Paediatric and Forest School First Aid, Radicalisation and Extremism, Working with Children with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities.
Name: Sophie White (Early Years Educator Apprentice)
Experience: I’m Sophie, a mummy of 2 young boys. I love adventuring in the woods – it’s such a wonderful place to play and learn.
When I am not with Foresteers I enjoy gardening and spending time with my family.
Qualifications: Forest School Leader level 3 trainee, Safeguarding level 3, Level 2 food health and safety, food allergy awareness, Paediatric and Forest School first aid
Favourite animal: Otter
Favourite colour: Yellow
Name: Name: Sally Wilson (Administrator)
Experience: I support Foresteers with administrative duties and help out occasionally at preschool. I have a background in finance and compliance. I have a little girl and am learning a lot about how children develop.
Qualifications: L3 NVQ Beauty Therapy, HSBC in house training, Prevent Duty, Level 3 Safeguarding, Level 2 Food Health and Hygiene, Food Allergy Awareness, ACEs, Safer Recruitment
Favourite animal: cat
Favourite colour: blue
Name: Kate Ashe (Early Years Educator)
I’m a qualified teacher with 11 years experience working in local primary schools. I love working with children, helping them grow in confidence and learning through exploring and play. I especially love reading stories, and nature crafts! I have 2 teenage children who both enjoyed Foresteers when they were young. My hobbies include: walking, dancing, sewing and gardening. I am thrilled to be part of the amazing Foresteers team, enjoying time in nature with the children, building foundations and enhancing their connection with the natural world.
Qualifications: BA Hons Business Studies, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Teaching Assistant NVQ Level 3, Safeguarding Level 3, Level 2 Food Health and Safety, Food Allergy Awareness, Paediatric and Forest School First Aid, Forest School Level 3 Trainee,
Name:Bethany Mellor (Early Years Educator)
I have been a Teaching Assistant at a Primary School for a number of years and been in all classes from Reception to Year 6. I love working with children and looking forward to doing this in a forest setting. I believe that being in the outdoors is both special and important.
For over 12 years I have been an Assistant Scout Leader and would definitely say Scouting is a passion of mine, the opportunities I have experienced have been amazing and it is so great to ensure the young people get them too. I have recently also become an Assistant Squirrel Leader, this section is for 4 – 6 years old and it has been fantastic to work with that age range.
I look forward to getting to know everyone at Foresteers.
Qualifications: BSc Psychology, Early Years Educator Level 3, Safeguarding Level 3, Food Health and Safety Level 2, Food Allergy Awareness, Paediatric and Forest School First Aid, LBBTQ and Awareness, FGM, Attachement Theory, Child Explotation, Safer Sleeping, Radicalisation and Extremism, Instruction to Autism, ACEs, Understanding the Mental Capacity Act, Working with Children with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
What Are The Forest Schools Aims?
Increase self esteem and self confidence
Improve co-operation, communication skills and awareness of others
Increase motivation, concentration and positive attitude towards learning
Encourage ownership and pride in the local environment
Encourage a better understanding of the outdoors
Improve social skills
Improve physical motor skills
Encourage individuals to become more active and healthy
What To Expect
Foresteers Outdoor Preschool Daily Routines
7.30-8.00 – Arrival – children arrive at the setting, register, have breakfast and then play.
9.00-10.00 – Free-flow Activities – at 9am we gather as a group and say good moring, we talk about what we mighty like to do during the day, the children may choose to direct their own learning, following their own interests or they may opt to take part in an adult led activity.
10.00-10.15 – Mid-morning snack – we gather at the log circle, wash our hands and enjoy a healthy snack while we reflect on the morning so far. Snack will be provided and fresh drinking water is available throughout the day.
10.15-11.45am – Free-flow Activities – these continue as before.
11.45am – 12.00-Play and Say, – a small group session with their keyworker that fcouses on speaking and listening
12.00-12.30 – Lunch – we eat together at the log circle
12.30-2.30 Free-flow Activities – some children prefer a bit of quiet time after lunch, perhaps listening to a story or two in the tent or having a nap on an airbed or in a hammock.
2.45-3.00 Mid-afternoon snack – we gather at the log circle, wash our hands and enjoy a healthy snack while we reflect on the afternoon so far. Snack will be provided and fresh drinking water is available throughout the day.
4.00- we ahve a story and say goodbyw to some of our friends
5.00 Reflection Time – children are encouraged to help clear away the site at the end of the day, we leave the woodland as we found it and remove all trace we were ever there. We gather at the log circle to reflect on the day – what we have enjoyed, what we have learnt and what we would like to do next time. This is the perfect time for children to talk about their day and show off any treasures they’ve found and have some tea time nibbles.
Forest School Experiences & Lessons
At Foresteers we believe that any forest school activity can relate to most, if not all, areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Let us give you an example: One of our favourite things to do with little ones is to read. Reading helps spark imagination, improve language, speech, communication, understanding and so much more. We will read the Gruffalo for example.
Then, we extend the story and we will ask the children if they would like to help build the homes for all the characters in the book (snake, fox and owl) using natural resources. Once the children are engaged in the activity (and it is OK if some don’t want to participate, spontaneous play is hugely beneficial) then it is a great opportunity to ‘act out’ the whole story from start to finish as a group, moving around, using different voices and having fun!
A simple yet effective activity like the Gruffalo supports all of the EYFS areas, including the specific, here’s how:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development: The children can explore the feelings of the animals and learn to be as a group as we go through the book.
Communication and Language: understanding the words in the story and sharing their thoughts and experiences as we go through it
Physical Development: Moving through the woodland in different ways and developing fine motor skills as we build different homes for the animals
Mathematics: The children are building, making shapes, counting how many logs snake needs for his home.
Understanding of the world: The children are in the natural world to begin with, so they are taking in their surroundings, finding insects as they move logs, noticing the changes of the seasons and the plants growing or decaying.
Literacy: Reading the story from start to finish and immersing themselves in it by acting it out, living the story through movement and voice.
Expressive Arts & Design: Being imaginative, this activity ignites that for the children for they are imagining the story and will incidentally evolve the story and continue in play after the main activity has ended.
Obviously, this is just one activity example. Scavenger hunts, pond dipping, natural art pictures, bushcraft, mud sculptures, fairies and dinosaur adventures are just a few more.
Children have the opportunity to learn their own way and our practitioners will plan for this.
Facilities and Pricing Information
Foresteers Outdoor Preschool provides portable toilets, each set up within a pallet toilet block. Each toilet will have easy access to toilet paper. Hand wash, hand sanitiser gel, paper towels and waste disposal bags will be situated by the hand wash station. Staff will instruct children about hand hygiene after toileting and before eating, and be vigilant about its practice by children.
We are happy to work with parents with toilet training and have potties to accommodate this.
For more information please view our toileting and nappy changing policy and procedure.
Our Kota Grill House, which can house 30 children comfortably, is where we can shelter from the elements, have a warm drink and story before going on another adventure
Pricing Information
We are open 50 weeks of the year, 7.30am-5.30pm and offer full time and term time contracts. We take children from their 2nd birthday.
We accept funded hours 9am-4pm or 7.30am-5.30pm, term time only, in a block of 7 or 10 hours. You can then add on wrap round care, breakfast club or tea club.
£72 – school day 9am-4pm all ages
FEL/WPE hours 9am-4pm or 7.30am- 5.30am term time only
£35 forest school fee for 2, 3 and 4 year olds added to invoice for each WPE/FEL/EFEL session
£50 forest school fee 7.30am-5.30am (10 hours claimed) added to invoice for each WPE/FEL/EFEL session)
£13 – Breakfast Club 8am-9.00am – this includes cereals or fruit for breakfast
£6.50 – Dawn Birds 7.30am-8am
£13 Tea Club 4pm-5pm – this includes crackers, cheese, vegetable sticks and fruit slices
£6.50 – Roosting Birds 5pm-5.30pm
£3.50 lunch per day (optional, term minimum)
£10 additional session you book if on a term time contract and you book additional sessions during the holidays at preschool
£13 per hour outside of any funding between 9am-4pm, subject to availability (optional, booking through email)
£65 admin fee including waterproof suit and login to tapestry (opt in or opt out)
Children must bring their own healthy and nut free packed lunch with a drink or pay £3.50 per day for lunch.
Families must also provide nappies, nappy bags and wipes.
If you would like to put your child on our interest list please email team@foresteers.co.uk
Registered Numbers:
Foresteers: 558984
Foresteers Outdoor Preschool: 2507786