Bishop Sutton Pre-School Forest Club

Bug hunting, den building and stories among the trees give Bishop Sutton Pre-School Forest Club its character. Its setting is the conservation area within Bishop Sutton Primary School’s grounds, where practical exploration of the natural world shapes the morning. This is a specific addition to attendance at Bishop Sutton Pre-School, with its own eligibility rule.

Ofsted rated the Forest Club Outstanding at its September 2022 inspection. It has capacity for 24 children aged three to five, although joining the club requires children to be in their preschool year, the academic year in which they turn four, and also attending Bishop Sutton Pre-School. That distinction matters when deciding whether this is the right provision for your child.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care: here, play and practical exploration provide opportunities to develop language, relationships and independence. Forest Club adds a woodland setting, with activities including sorting natural finds, making maps and investigating seasonal change. The surroundings become material for learning, rather than simply somewhere to exercise.

The current activity programme includes tool use, campfires and Kelly kettles alongside drawing, singing and stories. There is room for both investigation and imagination. Children can build dens, search for insects or explore how plants grow and decay, giving them concrete things to describe, compare and discuss.

In September 2022, children used identification sheets to investigate insects beneath logs, with magnifiers, binoculars and torches supporting their discoveries. They replaced the logs afterwards to protect the creatures beneath them. These small actions connected curiosity with responsibility for the environment.

Storytelling also drew on the woodland surroundings in September 2022. The Three Little Pigs prompted children to connect a thatched structure with the story’s straw house; some followed pictures on a story map as the tale unfolded. Elsewhere, children turned torches into pretend microphones and exchanged lines of a rap with adults. Language had a practical purpose in their play.

Outdoor and Community Life

Thursday mornings take place outdoors through rain, sunshine and snow. Each child receives an outfit, backpack, name tag and drinks bottle, so outdoor learning comes with equipment organised around the individual child. Forest Club explores weather and seasonal changes as part of its programme.

In September 2022, listening for birds and noticing a blackbird led to discussion and comparisons. Adults introduced more precise words in response to what children discovered. For a child who enjoys close observation, the woodland offers plenty to talk about.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities were supported through attention to their individual learning needs. The club’s inclusion policy also sets out collaboration with a Special Educational Needs Coordinator to identify and address additional needs, providing a current mechanism for planning support.

Practical independence was part of the morning in September 2022. Children attempted to put on their own boots, adjusted them when uncomfortable and carried their belongings, using an adult’s checklist to prepare. These were manageable responsibilities, linked directly to the activity ahead.

Safety teaching was equally concrete in September 2022: children learnt why they should keep fingers and forest finds out of their mouths, and how to move safely with long sticks. Adults acknowledged children’s feelings when disagreements arose. Photographs preserved chalkboard creations before they were cleared away, while staff shared discoveries and ideas for continuing learning with parents.

Sessions and Attendance

Forest Club opens on Thursdays from 9am to 11.30am during term time. Its outdoor programme continues across the seasons; this should be understood alongside the term-time calendar, rather than as holiday childcare.

Eligibility is specific: a child must be in the academic year in which they turn four and attend Bishop Sutton Pre-School as well. Forest Club therefore suits families seeking a woodland morning alongside that preschool attendance.

Getting There

The club is based at Bishop Sutton Primary School, Wick Road, Bishop Sutton, Bristol, BS39 5XD. Its learning space is the school’s conservation area. Using those grounds does not guarantee a Reception place; families still use the local authority admissions process for a state-school place.

Funding and Paid Extras

In September 2022, the club received early education funding for three- and four-year-olds. A separate Green Space charge applies per Forest Club session, so families should obtain a current written quotation that separates this charge from childcare costs.

• Eligibility and attendance. Forest Club is for children in their preschool year who also attend Bishop Sutton Pre-School. At a visit, discuss how the Thursday woodland morning fits your child’s preschool attendance.
• Weather and equipment. Outdoor exploration continues in rain and snow, with an outfit and backpack provided for each child. Use a visit to discuss how clothing and the outdoor routine will suit your child.
• Forest Club charges. The Green Space charge applies per session. Request a written quotation showing how it fits with any funded attendance.

Bishop Sutton Pre-School Forest Club suits families already using Bishop Sutton Pre-School who want a term-time woodland morning in their child’s preschool year. Den building, natural discoveries and stories give the offer clear substance, while the September 2022 Outstanding judgement provides a dated assessment of its quality. Its strongest appeal is the connection between outdoor exploration and everyday skills: talking about discoveries, managing belongings and learning how to act safely around others.