We are delighted to have been recognised as an official Forest School by the Northern Ireland Forest School Association (NIFSA).  The school won an award to train alongside NIFSA, running Forest School sessions both in our own school grounds and at Londonderry Park.  Mrs Dunne and Miss Rutledge completed the Forest School Leader qualification as part of the training and says the benefits for the children in the Nursery School have been fantastic. 

“The children love the Forest School sessions, many children haven’t had experiences like these before; regularly playing in a Forest environment, using woodwork tools and cooking on campfires, especially at such a young age.  We have seen children’s interests in nature and the world around them grow, along with the wellbeing benefits of fresh air, physical activity and connecting with nature.”

Parents have also welcomed the regular inclusion of Forest School sessions in the school’s timetable. "My Son is an outdoor child and absolutely loved forest schools. He was in both Londonderry Park and Mount Stewart. His enthusiasm after these days was a joy to see, I feel this really helped him to find his voice and learn boundaries and how to take risks safely. I also feel he had the freedom to explore and has grow in confidence so much. I as a parent think in this day and age, it is so important for my children to appreciate nature and the world around us and what we can do to look after it. Absolutely the key to this nursery!"

“We are delighted to be able to offer Forest School activities to both of our classes in the Nursery School.  We would like to thank North Down and Ards Council for the funding to complete the award and NIFSA for the training, support and guidance in establishing our school as an official Forest School.”