Our Toddler Forest School takes place at the magical Little Acorns Wood and Meadow with full access to a walled garden, woodland play gym/obstacle courses, sandpit, mud kitchen, ancient mature woodland, orchard and wildflower meadow. Led by our experienced outdoor leaders, we aim to allow your child to develop and socialise in a reassuring family atmosphere whilst being totally immersed in the great outdoors.
Imagination and creativity are nurtured through plenty of free play. Inspired by the Waldorf Steiner educational philosophy, we share traditional, seasonal songs and a healthy organic campfire snack, puppet storytelling, instrumental music, traditional handicrafts and nature-based learning activities.
Parents and carers can come together to share experiences, learn new skills and support each other through the highs and lows of parenting. There’s always a warm cuppa and healthy snack cooking on the campfire! It's as much for you as it is for your child.. a little support bubble in the woods. It’s an excellent way to meet new friends, bond with your children and to experience holistic pedagogy whilst connecting with nature from the roots up.
Each session lasts 2 hours and takes place no matter the weather. So wellies and waterproofs at the ready! Don’t worry, we’re very fortunate to have access to a cozy and warm yurt for the most severe weather, with beautiful wooden and soft toys.
We aim to provide a calm, unhurried and peaceful atmosphere absorbed in nature whilst understanding that children this age need to use their bodies and voices, a lot, with much energy, and loudly. We appreciate that young children love the familiar, it makes them feel safe, Little Acorns has developed a unique learning programme whereby our sessions follow a similar rhythm and pattern and includes much repetition of songs and verses.
Pay-as-you-go is only available where there is space, with spaces advertised approx' 3 days prior. All tickets include a healthy campfire snack, drink/warm cuppa and seasonal craft materials or activity for both parents and children along with plenty of woodland and forest play.
If you have any further questions please get in touch: hello@little-acorns.org
WHAT WILL MY CHILD NEED TO BRING / WEAR?
You may wish to come with a drink and a snack for the session, though Cooking healthy snacks on the campfire is a regular activity. Clean drinking water is always available and children and adults are provided with warm drinks in cold weather.
As well as a snacks and a drink, children will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing. This includes wellies, full waterproofs, and thermal layers, hats and gloves in cold weather; sun hats in warm weather. They will also need to bring spare clothes - getting wet and muddy is likely! We are lucky to have a cosy yurt space for use on the coldest of days. We also now have access to the cottage gate house too!
WEATHER
Our holistic learning ethos is all about play outdoors in all weathers. There is no such thing as bad weather as the saying goes... We have plenty of shelters available, as well as a yurt and any that the children choose to build!
However, there are certain weather conditions that will affect the running of Little Acorns:
High winds can be dangerous in woodland because of the dangers of falling branches and damage to shelters. We monitor the forecast and our site closely. Our site is fairly sheltered from Southerly and Easterly winds. We may need to close if winds are
Gusting 39mph from North or West
Gusting 45 mph from any direction
Electrical storms
Electrical storms can be dangerous in a woodland due to lack of indoor shelters and risk of electric shock from lightning, both direct and through tree roots. We follow the Rospa 30/30 rule: if there is a direct lightning strike within 30km of our site, we seek shelter in vehicles and stay in for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap. Staff have an app on our phones which alert us if there is a strike within 30km. If electrical storms persist, we may call parents and carers for early pick up.
Snow and ice
Our site may also close if snow and ice make the roads too dangerous for travel.
The staff will stay informed of the weather conditions via the Met Office Web Site. We will always try to give 24 hours notice of closure, however we may need to cancel on the day if weather changes suddenly / overnight. We will inform parents by text and email.
POLICIES
We can explain and show you all our policies and many can be found on our website for parents to view, under ‘Policies’.
Further information
You are welcome to ask us any questions - please email info@littleacornsearlyyears.co.uk
| Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
Supervising Adult(s)
Course ticket - for all 9 dates.
Unlimited warm cuppas and campfire snack included. Up to two adults. If you are wanting to bring more adults for example Gran is up visiting, you can add a pay-as-you-go adult ticket at any time. Cost works out at 99p a session!
|
£9.00 | |
Child Ticket-Confident Walker BLOCK BOOKING
Course ticket - for all 9 dates.
Ticket includes a healthy campfire snack, all craft materials, two experienced outdoor instructors and use of our amazing Forest School site.
|
£76.50 | |
Sibling Ticket- Confident Walker BLOCK BOOKING
Course ticket - for all 9 dates.
Please also opt for this ticket type if you are a CHILDMINDER or your eldest attending child is not yet confidently walking.
|
£45.00 | |
Infant ticket- NOT yet confidently walking
Course ticket - for all 9 dates.
For the baby siblings- this FREE ticket is only available with a paying child ticket.
|
||
PAY-AS-YOU GO TASTER SESSION
This ticket is available for those that have never been to Little Acorns TFS before and would like to give it a try to see if they like it before signing up for the remainder of the block. We typically run in half term blocks to ensure sustainability of the group and to form lasting friendships. But if you work shifts or can't commit to the whole block please get in touch: hello@little-acorns.org and we'll do our best to make it work for you!
|
£10.00 |
Auchincruive Estate
Little Acorns Wood and Meadow
River Garden
Ayr
KA6 5AE
Enter via the Nellies Gate Entrance (first entrance into Auchincruive if coming from Mossblown)
Please park in the car park located about 50m from the Gate House.
Amenities