Quick Description: 

The Forest Childcare Association is a best practice initiative for childcare providers who want to demonstrate their commitment to taking small children outdoors on a regular basis. By making a commitment to regular outdoor outings you can make a discernible difference to your children AND your business. When you join you will receive a Forest Childcare Starter Pack containing training information as well as business tools, a certificate to display and 50 Crafts and Activities to get you started.

More Information:

A Passion to Be Outstanding

Forest Childcare is about much more than just filling vacancies and impressing parents. It is about feeling that at the end of the day you are offering children the very best childcare available. By offering a Forest Childcare experience for the children you care for, you are doing far more than the bare minimum of care, you are providing those children with outstanding outdoor experiences that they will carry forwards into the rest of their lives.

The importance of outdoor learning is recognised by the EYFS in terms of the positive impact it can have on children’s well-being and development.

Forest Childcare Association Membership is a one-time purchase; you don’t need to renew your membership. Once you buy the pack you are a member for life.

Forest Childcare can help to:

• Teach children to appreciate trees, fields, ponds and woods by spending time in the natural environment
• Improve emotional and physical wellbeing of children and the adults who look after them
• Improve children’s concentration, perseverance, cooperation and motivation skills
• Help children to stay fit and counter obesity because children move around naturally outdoors while they play
• Let off steam
• Provide opportunities for developing harmonious relationships with others, through negotiation, taking turns and cooperation
• Improve physical skills gained from opportunities to run and balance
• Build knowledge and understanding of the world
• Provide rich opportunities for imagination, inventiveness and resourcefulness

What is included in the membership pack?

1)      About Forest Childcare Training Guide: 

Containing:

·       Information about the benefits of the outdoors to children.

·       Links to the EYFS Learning and Development areas,

·       The 5 Principles of Forest Childcare

·       Thoughts on practicalities, safety concerns and risk assessments associated      with outdoor outings.

2)      50 Crafts and Activities for Forest Childcare 

50 crafts and activities with outdoor themes for use with 2-5 year old children. The craft activities all have templates and instructions and are adaptable to younger children or to older ones.

All the projects have outdoor themes including

·       weather,

·       flowers and trees,

·       birds, wildlife,

·       mini beasts

·       Earth Day

The pack also includes certificates that you can award children when they reach bronze, silver gold levels of achievements in Forest Childcare.

3)  Business Tools for Forest Childcare – tips, tools, templates, and permission forms to help you brand and advertise your setting as a Forest Childcare Association member.

4)   Forest Childcare Logo and special certificate for you to display at your setting, on your documents and on your website or social media accounts.

What is the difference between Forest School and the Forest Childcare Association?

The Forest Childcare Association is a best practice initiative for childcare providers who want to demonstrate their commitment to taking small children outdoors on a regular basis. It is up to the childcare provider to train themselves, self-certify and agree to uphold the five principles at their childcare setting. It should not be confused with a Forest School accreditation which involves training over a period of time and assessment by an external body.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ

N.B This pack is supplied as a downloadable PDF document. If, once you have downloaded your product, you would prefer a Word version please contact jennifer@wellywren.co.uk and we will send you one. 

Products ARE NOT sent out by post.

Products are for personal use only. You must not share, sell or redistribute them in any form.

FREE UPDATE GUARANTEE

This Welly Wren product come with a free update guarantee. If your product is ever updated and you are on the Childminding Best Practice Mailing list you are entitled to free updated copies of any products you have purchased. See the frequently asked questions for more information.