A typical day in the life at a forest school nursery
What happens in a typical day at forest school?
Choosing a forest nursery often comes with lots of questions and one we hear all the time is: ‘what does a normal day look like?’
At Outdoor Owls forest school, every day is filled with outdoor adventures, but there’s also a comforting routine that helps children settle in and feel at home.
Here’s what a typical day looks like.
Breakfast and morning play
Children arrive in the forest ready to begin their day outdoors, so it is important that they are dressed appropriately for the season and weather. In the winter months, children wear warm layers including thermal or woollen long trousers and a long-sleeved top, a fleece or warm jumper, hat, gloves and thermal waterproof boots as well as waterproof outer layers. In the summer, lighter clothing such as leggings or trousers, a long-sleeved t-shirt and closed-toe shoes are recommended to protect children while they explore. Waterproofs are always packed in their bag in case the weather changes.
Breakfast is shared together in camp, usually including cereal, milk and fresh fruits which is the perfect fuel for a morning of adventure.
Once everyone has arrived, we gather around the campfire for circle time. This is a calm and meaningful start to the day where children talk about how they’re feeling and the weather, sing songs together, listen to a story and hear about the day ahead.
We also run through our forest school rules which have been designed to build independence and respect for nature. These include “Stop, Orange Rope Return” to encourage children to understand boundaries and that they mustn’t go outside of their designated play area which is determined with an orange rope. "Yes to the Vest!" for high-visibility safety, all children must wear a high visibility vest so we can see them at all times. "No Picking and Licking" for hygiene, encouraging them not to eat anything that might be dangerous."Sharing and Caring" for social interaction and to encourage them to be kind to one another. Finally "Stop, Drop and Cross" for managing any animal encounters such as dogs or deers.
After settling in with friends, exploration begins.
Each morning educators prepare different play areas and activities designed to spark curiosity and imagination. Children might choose to:
Cook imaginative meals in the mud kitchen
Build confidence on obstacle courses
Create arts and crafts using natural materials
Dig, construct and problem-solve
Share stories in the book area
Engage in sensory and nature play
Our holistic curriculum covers three learning roots. We focus on developing: resilience, empathy and independence through the body, mind and soul.
This child-led free play is at the heart of forest school learning, allowing children to test ideas and learn through real experiences.
Often, the morning also includes an adventure walk through the woodland. Children visit favourite trees, explore dens they’ve built, spot wildlife and notice seasonal changes - learning naturally as they move and play. Educators often re-enact stories to make these walks come to life, for example following the books: ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ and the Gruffalo or imaginative stories about fairies and dragons.
We have designated toilet tents and hand washing stations on each camp and toileting is carried out safely by key, trained personnel. Children learn that personal hygiene matters, despite being outdoors.
Lunch and rest time
By late morning, appetites have grown after plenty of fresh air and movement.
Before midday, everyone gathers for lunch at our al fresco dining area. Meals are freshly prepared, nutritious and shared socially - helping children develop independence and positive relationships with food.
After lunch, children who need rest head into our cosy yurt space. Educators create a calm atmosphere with blankets and gentle natural soundscapes, helping children relax and recharge. (Our yurts also double up as a source of warmth in the winter months as they contain a wood burner and are great spaces for children’s activities when it’s cold outside.)
Children who do not sleep are offered quiet rest opportunities, ensuring everyone’s individual needs are supported.
Once rested, children enjoy a healthy snack of fresh fruit and vegetables and homemade cookies from our chef before returning to play.
Afternoon play and exploration
Afternoons at our forest school nursery continue with a balance of exploration, learning and creativity.
Depending on the flow of the day, children may:
Spend extended time in the outdoor learning environment
Take mini adventures to new areas of the forest
Role-play and storytelling in nature
Care for growing plants and wildlife spaces
Participate in group games or collaborative projects
Learning happens everywhere through discovering and experiencing.
Getting ready for school: Our preschool sessions
Older children at Outdoor Owls join small group activities that gently prepare them for school life, building listening skills, confidence, communication and early literacy and numeracy through fun, hands-on experiences.
Throughout the week, our older children take part in hands-on projects that bring learning to life. These activities allow more abstract concepts such as numbers and letters to be used in practical ways, helping children see how learning connects to the real world.
Many of our projects run across several sessions, allowing children to return to activities, build on their ideas, and develop their skills over time. The more sessions a child attends, the more opportunities they have to practise, refine and deepen their learning.
Construction projects, such as building bug hotels, encourage planning, teamwork, creativity and ecological awareness. Children explore natural materials, compare shapes and sizes and practise early mathematical thinking while working together to create something meaningful. They also begin to learn about tool safety and how different tools are used responsibly.
Activities like fire lighting introduce children to risk awareness in a carefully supported environment. These experiences develop fine motor skills, patience, focus and self-regulation while also helping children build confidence as they master new challenges.
Traditional forest school skills are introduced safely and appropriately, including activities such as sawing, drilling, whittling and mallet use and practical science exploration.
Learning happens everywhere through discovering and experiencing.
Tea time and home time
As the day winds down, children gather together once more for tea. Sharing food together encourages conversation and a sense of community after a busy day outdoors.
Home time follows, often with muddy boots, rosy cheeks, growing confidence and plenty of stories to share.
Why parents choose a forest school nursery
A typical day at a forest nursery offers far more than just outdoor play. Children benefit from:
Early years forest school education following the Ofsted EYFS framework.
Increased confidence and independence
Strong social and communication skills
Improved physical development
Emotional wellbeing through nature connection
Meaningful, hands-on learning experiences
Every day looks slightly different, guided by the seasons, weather and children’s interests but the outcome is always the same: happy, capable learners who thrive outdoors.
Outdoor learning with Outdoor Owls
At Outdoor Owls we deliver forest school learning coupled with traditional nursery learning but all outdoors. Our settings are based in safe, inspiring natural woodland environments for children aged 6 months up until 5 years. We also provide holiday camps outside school term-times for children aged 4 to 7 years, to experience more advanced and structured activities.
We have settings based in Surrey, in Cobham and Guildford. For families living in London we also have minibus points in Fulham, Kingston, Putney, Richmond, Surbiton and Thames Ditton, where our team and children travel to our forest in Cobham to spend the day learning outdoors. Families can enquire online or speak to us on the phone and come for an onsite showaround or next scheduled open days to learn more.
