Forest School Education for Montessori Parents in the UK

A Nature-Rich Start to Lifelong Learning

Choosing the right early years education path for your child can feel overwhelming, especially with the growing number of nursery philosophies available in the UK. Among the most promising and increasingly popular approaches are Montessori and forest school models. While each offers unique advantages, a blend of the two—such as what is offered at Woodland Wanderers—provides an enriching and balanced environment. In this Montessori blog post, we explore the benefits of forest school education, how it complements the Montessori method, and why outdoor learning is vital for your child’s holistic development.

What Is Forest School Education?

Forest school education is an outdoor, child-centred approach to learning that originated in Scandinavia. It places children in natural settings—woodlands, parks, gardens—where they are encouraged to explore, take manageable risks, and engage in play-based discovery. Activities range from building dens and cooking over campfires to using real tools for craft and observing wildlife across the seasons.

The forest school approach has been widely embraced by UK nurseries that seek to reconnect children with nature while developing emotional resilience, problem-solving skills, and independence. Rather than restricting children to classroom routines, forest schools give them freedom to make choices, test boundaries, and build confidence in safe, supervised environments.

The Core Benefits of Forest School Education

1. Physical Health and Gross Motor Development

Children who spend extended time outdoors naturally engage in running, climbing, lifting, balancing, and digging. These gross motor activities strengthen core muscles, coordination, and spatial awareness. Compared to traditional classrooms, where physical activity may be limited, forest school environments ensure that movement is part of every day.

2. Emotional Resilience and Self-Regulation

Nature has a calming effect on the nervous system. Time spent outdoors reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) and supports emotional regulation. Forest school sessions also allow children to experience small, manageable risks—like crossing a log or lighting a fire—which build emotional resilience and self-belief.

3. Social Skills and Teamwork

Whether building a shelter or searching for insects, forest school learning is inherently collaborative. Children work in small groups, learning how to communicate, share tools, solve problems together, and respect each other’s space and ideas. The emphasis is on relationships, not competition.

4. Sensory-Rich Learning Experiences

Leaves crunching underfoot, birdsong overhead, the texture of moss on a log—forest school immerses children in sensory stimuli. This is particularly beneficial for sensory integration and supporting neurodiverse learners who thrive in tactile, unstructured environments.

5. Environmental Awareness and Stewardship

By spending time in natural settings, children develop a deep appreciation for the living world. They learn to identify plants and animals, observe weather patterns, and care for habitats. These habits create future citizens who value sustainability and understand the human-nature connection.

The Montessori and Forest School Blend

Montessori and forest school philosophies may appear different on the surface—Montessori classrooms are calm, ordered, and indoors, while forest school sessions are wild, loud, and open-ended. Yet at their heart, they share the same principles: respect for the child, hands-on learning, and preparation for real life.

Shared Values Between the Approaches

• Child-led exploration: Both allow the child to follow their interests.

• Hands-on materials: Montessori has didactic tools, while forest school offers mud, sticks, stones, and leaves.

• Observation over interference: Adults in both roles observe and guide, rather than lecture.

• Respect for the environment: Montessori encourages care for materials and surroundings; forest school expands that to the living world.

At nurseries like Woodland Wanderers, the Montessori nature blend creates a dynamic, flexible learning environment. Children move freely between structured indoor activities and exploratory outdoor adventures—developing literacy, numeracy, empathy, and ecological consciousness all at once.

Why Outdoor Learning Matters in the Early Years

Beyond the Four Walls

Confining children to indoor learning alone doesn’t align with how young minds grow. Outdoor learning provides a vital counterbalance. It refreshes focus, boosts mental health, and engages the whole body in the learning process. When children climb trees or trace letters in the mud, they are learning just as effectively—often more deeply—than at a desk.

Developing Risk Assessment and Confidence

Forest school encourages children to weigh consequences: Is this log too slippery? Should I ask for help? This nurtures practical intelligence and situational awareness. By making decisions about their own safety, children develop autonomy and self-confidence.

Cultivating Patience and Observation

Nature teaches children to slow down. Watching ants build a nest or waiting quietly for a squirrel fosters patience, mindfulness, and attentiveness—qualities that benefit every future subject they encounter.

Tips for Parents Exploring Montessori and Forest School Nurseries

1. Look for Blended Models

Nurseries like Woodland Wanderers that combine both approaches often provide the most well-rounded experiences. Ask about the frequency of outdoor sessions, the qualifications of staff, and how the curriculum integrates nature.

2. Ask to Observe a Session

Seeing is believing. Arrange to visit a session or attend an open day. Watch how the children interact with nature, how staff support without interrupting, and how the day balances activity and rest.

3. Consider Your Child’s Temperament

Some children thrive in unstructured environments, others prefer the order of indoor tasks. The Montessori forest school model adapts beautifully to both—offering calm spaces and wild ones, all within a predictable routine.

4. Prioritise Philosophy over Facilities

While glossy classrooms and bright equipment may impress, the quality of relationships, rhythm of the day, and respect shown to children are what truly matter. Ask how your child will be welcomed, listened to, and supported.

5. Think Long-Term

Early years education is the foundation of life-long learning. Skills gained in Montessori and forest school settings—like independence, resilience, and curiosity—benefit children well beyond nursery age.

Forest School in UK Nurseries: A Growing Trend

The UK has seen a rise in nurseries offering forest school elements alongside traditional or Montessori programmes. This shift reflects growing awareness of nature’s role in child development, as well as the demand for more holistic alternatives to conventional early years education.

Parents across the UK are seeking settings that offer not just safety and academics, but joy, wonder, and connection. Montessori forest school nurseries answer that call—creating environments where children are free to move, think, feel, and grow. These settings are not only meeting developmental milestones but exceeding them in creative and compassionate ways. As demand increases, more UK nurseries are investing in outdoor classrooms, staff training in forest school practice, and curriculum models that blend structure with freedom. This evolving educational landscape reflects a collective recognition that children need both roots and wings—roots in the natural world and the emotional safety of nurturing relationships, and wings to explore, imagine, and learn without unnecessary limits.

How Forest School Supports Academic Foundations

One of the most common misconceptions about forest school education is that it sacrifices academic readiness in favour of play. In truth, outdoor learning can provide a rich foundation for later academic achievement—particularly when combined with the Montessori approach. When children spend time outdoors exploring natural materials and engaging in hands-on projects, they are building the very skills that underpin formal learning.

For example, balancing on logs and climbing trees develops core strength, coordination, and spatial awareness—essential for handwriting and posture in later school years. Sorting stones by size, building patterns with leaves, or measuring sticks to build a den introduces early maths concepts like categorisation, pattern recognition, estimation, and measurement. Similarly, storytelling around a campfire or labelling a hand-drawn nature map enhances vocabulary, sequencing, and expressive language.

Moreover, forest school activities foster executive functioning skills such as focus, memory, planning, and flexible thinking. These are the true building blocks of future literacy and numeracy—and they develop best through movement, collaboration, and play in meaningful contexts. In a Montessori nature blend setting, children move seamlessly from shaping letters with sandpaper and tracing boards indoors, to forming those same shapes with twigs and mud outside. Learning is never confined—it is lived.

Parents looking for UK nurseries that honour both academic preparation and a love of the outdoors will find in forest school education an inspiring answer. With its careful balance of structure and spontaneity, the approach sets children up not only to succeed in school, but to enjoy the process of learning itself.

Final Thoughts: A Childhood Close to Nature

In a world of fast-paced technology and increasing pressure on children to perform, forest school education reminds us of a simpler truth: children learn best when they are free to be themselves. When paired with the thoughtful structure of Montessori education, this freedom becomes even more powerful.

Choosing a Montessori forest school nursery isn’t just about education—it’s about giving your child the gift of balance, exploration, and peace. It’s about laying a foundation of confidence and curiosity that will support them for life.

For parents looking for practical, child-focused, and inspiring educational models, forest school is more than a trend. It’s a return to what childhood is meant to be.

Interested in learning more? Visit Woodland Wanderers for information on upcoming open days, curriculum details, and Montessori nature blend programmes available at UK nurseries. For more parenting tips and Montessori blog content, follow along for updates on early years learning in nature.