Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hi All,

We're a family of four (American/Danish) and we are moving to ED in July. I'm looking for the most outdoorsy nursery possibly for my 3-year old son (he just turned 3 this week - crazy!). We currently live in Berlin and he's used to being outside all the time with his German kindergarden and he really thrives with it. Conversely I don't think he'd thrive with being indoors all day. Are there any nurseries in London/ED where the kids are bussed out to a forest or a beach and spend the day there, come rain or shine? They're very common in Denmark..

Barring that, what is your take on the dreaded waiting lists? Should I expect years or months.. All advice eagerly received, as we are losing our minds (and hair!) over trying to figure the English school system!

Thank you so much!

Hi, my daughter will be in the same school year. She goes to blossoms Montessori who have forest school days (the day changes each week and they go every other week) there are also several outdoor groups on different days that you can take part in, if you aren't doing full time nursery. There is also small acres school which is based in the park and they are outside all the time.


You will need to register online for the school admissions process which opens in September and you will need to make your school choices by January, you can call the schools to book a place on their open mornings to look around. Private school systems are slightly different. Depending on where you live, you may/may not have more/less "choice" look at the school threads on here for info, you might want to bear this in mind when looking for a home.

Hi, no i don't think you'll find nurseries like in Denmark or Germany where kids spend all day in woods or outside. However there is also a 2nd German kindergarten in forest hill. SE23, which my daughter went to ( I'm English but my parents loved in Germany for 25 years, and for much of it in Berlin). The kindergarten is brilliant and the kids are outside in all weathers, and now also go to a forest school session weekly. However it's not open Wed, and hours are 8.30-4.30pm. Likely too be a waiting list now, but just ask likelihood of getting a place. Sometimes there are places for older kids, rather than the 2 year olds. Hope this helps. For school start you will need to apply by Jan 2016, for starting reception Sep 2016, aged 4 and a bit. For state schools being in their nursery does not mean you get a school place, that is a different application procedure with strict rules..... Siblings first, then based on distance.

Hope this helps!

Nicky

There is a community group that meet on mondays at The Lodge, 57 Streatham Common North

http://www.naturalchildhood.co.uk/about-us/13-2/forest-school/


Private provision at Peckham Rye

http://www.smallacresschool.org/place.html


The Horniman primary school has some forest school concepts in place as does the Dulwich Woods Children centre nursery


The Nell Gwynn Nursery school has forest school activities on thursday mornings for under 5s and their parent/carers

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11058/peckham_nunhead_and_peckham_rye

I'd also second Rose House in Forest Hill. It's an excellent school that nurtures academic growth trough outdoor led activities and has Steiner based principles. Another avenue for you to explore would be the Forest School that runs at Mayow Park very Monday morning. Term time as well as during school holidays.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Thank you all for your input- we had the children with their mother for a few days. individually the children went out - one  to the theatre and Camden Market and Horniman's. The other to the transport museum and Leicester Square (could not get in to the Lego place so went into M & M place) also Dulwich Park with his Aunty and cousin. My daughter is a special needs teacher in Sussex and even though schools have closed, she had  to work 2 days (INSET Days)  one day she had a 3 hour zoom call with her colleagues as could not find a child minder, so worked from home, the next day the 9 year old spent the day with friends so she could go to work. At least with us she could get some respite from child care. After much negotiation, their father in Liverpool  has managed to get some leave from his new job for 2 weeks. My daughter will drive them to Oxford where Dad will pick up. This gives my daughter a few days  without children to catch up with various friends in the Midland's and Yorkshire. I will search the science school link as above as there maybe something in the October or February Half Terms which we could enrol the 9 year old in. We try to support our 3 daughters with child care but most of the grandchildren are grown up which leaves us with 9,11 and 15 year olds. We have not been asked to look after the 6 year and 3 year old great grandchildren - !!! We are firm believers that grandparents should be active in their grandchildren's lives and offer support where they can. I looked after my eldest granddaughter when she was a baby and toddler one day a week so my daughter could work. My granddaughter is now 26 and we are very close as she is the only one living in London. The others are scattered around Kent, Sussex and Essex.  
    • I do know the care home julia tant was moved to
    • Our cellar was damp constantly and we were told that there were many underground streams in Dulwich (which eventually end up in the river in Belair Park),  Agree it is connected  to the water table. We had all old plaster removed from walls and replastered, 
    • Andy did a good job for me doing up a flat - bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen for a very reasonable rate. He’s a top notch painter and decorator and can turn his hand to many other trades too. I’d highly recommend him - nothing was too much trouble.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...