SEPTEMBER 2021 UPDATE - UNFORTUNATLEY, DESPITE A FLURRY OF INTEREST AND ENQUIRIES INTO OUR NEW SMALL SCHOOL SESSIONS, A LACK OF COMMITMENT FROM FAMILIES DEEMED IT NOT FEASIBLE TO RUN THESE SESSIONS JUST YET. WE WILL REVIEW THIS IN THE NEW YEAR.
TO EXPRESS INTEREST HOWEVER PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]
Great and Small Forest Education are excited to announce that we are starting a completely new and unique approach to education for primary aged children, simply entitled SMALL SCHOOL.
We are offering just 6 places for children aged 5 upwards whose families have chosen to home educate or flexi-school to attend our Small School which will initially be located in our Cabin in our private woodland. This small group of children will be scaffolded by a qualified teacher and teaching assistant and taught in a very personalised and differentiated, child and interest led, project based, cross curricular approach covering topics democratically chosen by the children. Sessions will be taught in both in our woodland setting (though this is separate to our forest school provision) and on relevant and appropriate excursions. The Small School approach focuses not just on academic development but on holistic development with plenty of opportunity for free play and nature connection to boost children’s wellbeing.
Small School will operate on a term time basis with children registered on their chosen day/s for the academic year. The Small School day will be from 9.15am to 3.30pm, initially on a Wednesday or Thursday as preferred by the majority of parents however additional days can be added subject to demand.
The cost of the sessions is £55.00 per day. Childcare voucher schemes can also be used to pay or contribute towards this cost. There may be an additional cost for an entry fees to any visits that we go on eg museums, farms, zoos etc and transport costs. Parents will be informed of these prior to any visits being confirmed.
Small School will operate under the Ofsted Childcare (voluntary and compulsory elements) registration of Great and Small Forest Education EY554007 and will comply with our usual policies and procedures.
To register your interest for your child to start Small School in September 2021, please message or email Victoria at [email protected]
FAQ's:
The concept of the Small School sessions is pretty unique; there's no other educational setting around (or that I've come across as yet) that is offering a similar educational experience. This is all basically coming from my thoughts and musings over the last few years and I really believe that these sessions will be a wonderfully beneficial addition to the education of primary aged children whose families have chosen to home educate or flexi-school (with approval from their primary school). However, as such, this is a carte blanc and I haven't run these sessions before so only when I do will I truly know how the sessions will fully operate. But trust me when I say, that the holistic development of all children is at the heart of our practice at Great and Small and this is the case too with the Small School sessions. Every child is unique, just as this educational experience is, and every child will be supported and scaffolded to help them learn, grow and thrive in their way.
I'm sure that this list of questions will also grow as I have questions asked....
Q: What day will the Small School session be on?
A: Initially I planned Thursdays, however there is now the option of a Wednesday which has proved favourable from parents who have younger children (3+) who could attend the Forest School at the same time. Subject to demand, there is the potential that we could run Small School on both days. It would be wonderful to run it every day but of course, that is subject to demand.
Q: What time will the sessions be?
A: 9.15am (drop off) to 3.30pm (pick up)
Q: Is there a half day option?
A: No, sorry. This is because I have found that deeper learning and engagement occurs when children are given plenty of time to develop their learning. Plus there will be times when we go on visits or excursions.
Q: What is the difference between the Forest School and Small School?
A: Our Forest School sessions are set in our woodland all day where the children have the opportunity to play and explore, take part in activities provided linked to seasonal themes and topics, bushcraft activities, tool work and fire use. The emphasis is really on free, child led play. Small School on the other hand is as it suggests - a small version of school. Groups will be supported and scaffolded in learning about subjects diplomatically chosen by the group though teaching, their own research using books, magazines, internet and visits. Of course there will be 'play times' where the children can play in the woodland for shorter periods of time and enjoy smaller, shorter Forest School activities if appropriate and relevant to the topic of learning eg learning to cook traditional food on the campfire from Roman times, making typical stone age tools etc. Our classroom will be The Cabin which is in the Forest School woodland and although the Forest School sessions and Small School sessions may well be running simultaneously, they won't merge.
Q: Who will teach the children?
A: A qualified teacher and a teaching assistant (also forest school trained). Further details to be confirmed in due course.
Q: Is seems pricey at £55.00 per day - why so much?
A: I believe that this price is excellent value for money given the personalised teaching children will receive in small groups from qualified and experienced teachers and assistants.
Q: Is there financial help available to pay for sessions?
A: Unfortunately once a family decides to go down the home schooling route, they forego the 'free' education that our country provides. The funded hours for early years children runs out the term after they reach 5 years old. However, there some options. Some employers may have tax free childcare schemes or childcare voucher schemes (still available for parents who have previously registered and used these, no new applicants have been accepted since 2018). The website www.childcarechoices.gov.uk provides information as to what help is available to parents to pay for childcare.
Q: Is there a discount for siblings?
A: I'm sorry but no. As above, I believe that the cost is super value for money and the overheads of paying qualified teachers and assistants requires this amount.
Q: Will Small School be Ofsted registered separately?
A: To start with, no. The Small School sessions will run under our existing Ofsted registration for Great and Small Forest School (company name: Great and Small Forest Education), under which we are registered on the Childcare register to care for and educate children up to the age of 11. Perhaps one day, subject to popularity, Small School may be registered separately but 'one step at a time'. Our last Ofsted report can be found at https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50028313
Q: What will children do for lunch?
A: Most of the time, children will need to bring a packed lunch. There will be times however that we will involve the children in campfire cooking. Healthy snacks of fruit will be provided free of charge and water will be available throughout the day.
Q: Do we have to commit to a full academic year?
A: Children will be registered with us and attend on the day that they are booked in for on a term time basis. Withdrawals at any time can be made with a 4 week notice period, as per our usual policies, during which time sessions are payable. There are usually between 6-8 weeks in half term. Exact dates will be confirmed in due course.
Q: How will parents be charged?
A: Invoices can be raised in advance monthly or termly as preferred by the parent and paid through bank transfer.
Q: Will parents still be charged if a child does not attend due to illness or holiday?
Yes. We won't charge if we have to cancel for any reason otherwise charges will apply.
Please contact Victoria for a welcome pack of information or to discuss Small School further.
The concept of the Small School sessions is pretty unique; there's no other educational setting around (or that I've come across as yet) that is offering a similar educational experience. This is all basically coming from my thoughts and musings over the last few years and I really believe that these sessions will be a wonderfully beneficial addition to the education of primary aged children whose families have chosen to home educate or flexi-school (with approval from their primary school). However, as such, this is a carte blanc and I haven't run these sessions before so only when I do will I truly know how the sessions will fully operate. But trust me when I say, that the holistic development of all children is at the heart of our practice at Great and Small and this is the case too with the Small School sessions. Every child is unique, just as this educational experience is, and every child will be supported and scaffolded to help them learn, grow and thrive in their way.
I'm sure that this list of questions will also grow as I have questions asked....
Q: What day will the Small School session be on?
A: Initially I planned Thursdays, however there is now the option of a Wednesday which has proved favourable from parents who have younger children (3+) who could attend the Forest School at the same time. Subject to demand, there is the potential that we could run Small School on both days. It would be wonderful to run it every day but of course, that is subject to demand.
Q: What time will the sessions be?
A: 9.15am (drop off) to 3.30pm (pick up)
Q: Is there a half day option?
A: No, sorry. This is because I have found that deeper learning and engagement occurs when children are given plenty of time to develop their learning. Plus there will be times when we go on visits or excursions.
Q: What is the difference between the Forest School and Small School?
A: Our Forest School sessions are set in our woodland all day where the children have the opportunity to play and explore, take part in activities provided linked to seasonal themes and topics, bushcraft activities, tool work and fire use. The emphasis is really on free, child led play. Small School on the other hand is as it suggests - a small version of school. Groups will be supported and scaffolded in learning about subjects diplomatically chosen by the group though teaching, their own research using books, magazines, internet and visits. Of course there will be 'play times' where the children can play in the woodland for shorter periods of time and enjoy smaller, shorter Forest School activities if appropriate and relevant to the topic of learning eg learning to cook traditional food on the campfire from Roman times, making typical stone age tools etc. Our classroom will be The Cabin which is in the Forest School woodland and although the Forest School sessions and Small School sessions may well be running simultaneously, they won't merge.
Q: Who will teach the children?
A: A qualified teacher and a teaching assistant (also forest school trained). Further details to be confirmed in due course.
Q: Is seems pricey at £55.00 per day - why so much?
A: I believe that this price is excellent value for money given the personalised teaching children will receive in small groups from qualified and experienced teachers and assistants.
Q: Is there financial help available to pay for sessions?
A: Unfortunately once a family decides to go down the home schooling route, they forego the 'free' education that our country provides. The funded hours for early years children runs out the term after they reach 5 years old. However, there some options. Some employers may have tax free childcare schemes or childcare voucher schemes (still available for parents who have previously registered and used these, no new applicants have been accepted since 2018). The website www.childcarechoices.gov.uk provides information as to what help is available to parents to pay for childcare.
Q: Is there a discount for siblings?
A: I'm sorry but no. As above, I believe that the cost is super value for money and the overheads of paying qualified teachers and assistants requires this amount.
Q: Will Small School be Ofsted registered separately?
A: To start with, no. The Small School sessions will run under our existing Ofsted registration for Great and Small Forest School (company name: Great and Small Forest Education), under which we are registered on the Childcare register to care for and educate children up to the age of 11. Perhaps one day, subject to popularity, Small School may be registered separately but 'one step at a time'. Our last Ofsted report can be found at https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50028313
Q: What will children do for lunch?
A: Most of the time, children will need to bring a packed lunch. There will be times however that we will involve the children in campfire cooking. Healthy snacks of fruit will be provided free of charge and water will be available throughout the day.
Q: Do we have to commit to a full academic year?
A: Children will be registered with us and attend on the day that they are booked in for on a term time basis. Withdrawals at any time can be made with a 4 week notice period, as per our usual policies, during which time sessions are payable. There are usually between 6-8 weeks in half term. Exact dates will be confirmed in due course.
Q: How will parents be charged?
A: Invoices can be raised in advance monthly or termly as preferred by the parent and paid through bank transfer.
Q: Will parents still be charged if a child does not attend due to illness or holiday?
Yes. We won't charge if we have to cancel for any reason otherwise charges will apply.
Please contact Victoria for a welcome pack of information or to discuss Small School further.