Rain Or Shine Forest Preschool

Tree climbing, campfires and making things with real tools give Rain Or Shine Forest Preschool its character. The Bidborough setting occupies woodland at Juddwood Farm, overlooking a valley where deer and buzzards can be seen. This is an outdoor preschool with the natural world as its working space, rather than an indoor nursery with occasional woodland outings.

Ofsted rated the preschool Outstanding at its June 2023 inspection. It has capacity for 24 children; those attending in June 2023 were aged two to four. The inspection examples give that judgement substance: children constructed a swing, experimented with making instruments and used rope to develop their knot-tying skills.

Term-time core days and morning or afternoon wraparound offer different attendance patterns. The practical commitment extends beyond choosing hours: children need clothing for outdoor life, packed food and a willingness to spend their day in the woods.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, including learning through play. Here, Forest School activities include fire activities and tool work, with their range and frequency linked to staffing. The distinction matters: outdoor activities are a way of delivering early education, rather than a replacement for it.

In June 2023, children used drills to make resources and assembled instruments from everyday materials. A substantial pirate construction brought together timber, climbing ropes and nets; staff extended that interest into learning different knots. These were projects with decisions to make and skills to practise, giving imaginative play a practical dimension.

Language also reached beyond naming woodland objects. In June 2023, children discussed calm during meditation and considered the ground beneath them when assessing risks. Their conversations connected words with experiences, making vocabulary useful rather than an isolated exercise.

Cultural learning had concrete examples too. In June 2023, children made hamantaschen biscuits while learning about Jewish traditions and explored Yalda, the Iranian celebration associated with seasonal change. They sang their farewell song in languages including Portuguese, Farsi and Vietnamese. These examples brought other traditions into activities children could participate in themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

Bidborough's woodland overlooks a valley, with a wooden hut close to the car park providing a collection point. The setting's physical character is important to the choice: woodland, wildlife and outdoor exploration are central to the day.

In June 2023, children tested their movement through climbing, swinging and rolling over horizontal equipment. Staff involved them in thinking about the risks of challenging activities, including campfires and exploring pond life. The learning was practical: children had to connect a safety rule with what they were about to do.

Those examples also distinguish physical challenge from simply having space to run. Making a swing, deciding how to use it and recalling campfire boundaries required children to think as well as move.

A gradual start is built into settling. Children can begin with shorter attendance where needed, while still coming on at least two core days each week; hours increase over the first six weeks. That gives families a structured adjustment period rather than requiring every child to manage the complete day immediately.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, strong relationships between staff and children, and outstanding progress that included children with SEND and children learning English as an additional language. This is a dated judgement, but its practical examples are useful: staff knew children's individual personalities and supported them in expressing their ideas.

In June 2023, parent communication included invitations to learn about campfire activities, such as preparing vegetable soup and making play dough. Staff also shared learning about online safety and screen use. That connected conversations at home with experiences at preschool, rather than leaving parents with only a description of the day's activities.

In June 2023, children showed consideration for living things and one another, including helping friends remember how to warm their hands. Staff development included ways to help children express feelings and manage their wellbeing. Outdoor independence was accompanied by attention to relationships and emotional needs.

Parents supply packed lunch, breakfast for children starting at 8am, and nappies, wipes and nappy sacks when needed. Families receive guidance at joining about foods to avoid because of severe allergies.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Judd Wood Farm, Tonbridge, TN11 8AB. For the Bidborough woodland site, the nearest postcode is TN3 0LL; the wooden hut stands near the car park. The distinction between the postal address and the site postcode matters when planning the journey.

Core preschool days run Monday to Thursday, 9.15am to 2.15pm, during term time. Morning wraparound runs from 8am to 9.15am, and afternoon wraparound from 2.15pm to 4pm on those days. Friday Forest Tots is a shorter session for two-year-olds, running from 9.15am to 11.45am.

Preschool children attend at least two core days each week. September is the usual intake, with April entry conditional on availability; there is no January intake. When the waiting list operates, allocation takes account of siblings, age with older children prioritised, and bookings exceeding 10 hours weekly. These are durable booking rules, rather than an indication of how many places are currently free.

An enrolment deposit is returned once the child starts, but is retained if the family cancels the place. Enquiries can be made through the Bidborough contact form or by telephone on 01732 356421.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is accepted for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds, within the term-time attendance model. Funded hours carry no charge, and there is no daily cap on how many funded hours can be used; the minimum two-core-day booking still applies to preschool children. Additional private hours are charged separately.

A monthly voluntary contribution supports additional staffing, including the supervision needed for fire activities and tool use. The frequency and breadth of those experiences depend on the staffing the preschool can provide. The voluntary contribution is therefore a meaningful part of the funding structure, while remaining voluntary.

Current prices are supplied directly by the nursery. Parents provide the packed meals and personal changing supplies described above, so those preparations sit alongside arranging the funded or paid hours.

• Outdoor preparation. Sessions take place in different weather conditions, with waterproof clothing, spare clothes and suitable footwear part of the family's routine. Consider how your child manages prolonged outdoor play and changing weather.
• A regular term-time commitment. Preschool attendance starts at two core days weekly, with a gradual increase during settling where needed. The Monday-to-Thursday core pattern and Friday toddler session serve different purposes; match the actual pattern to your week.
• Finding the woodland site. Bidborough uses TN3 0LL as its nearest postcode, while the postal address is TN11 8AB. Use an open morning to discuss the route and collection arrangements; Saturday open mornings take place in March and September.
• Food and allergies. Families pack meals and receive advice about severe-allergy restrictions at joining. Allergy-affected families should confirm current arrangements before agreeing their child's food plan.

Rain Or Shine suits families seeking outdoor early education through regular term-time core days, with morning and afternoon wraparound where required. Friday Forest Tots offers a separate, shorter pattern for two-year-olds. Its strongest evidence lies in the June 2023 examples of children making, climbing, communicating and thinking about risk, rather than in a broad claim about the benefits of nature.

The practical fit is just as important as the educational appeal. Woodland days require preparation at home, and the core booking is a regular weekly commitment. For families comfortable with that rhythm, the setting offers a clearly defined alternative to an indoor preschool day.