Forest School S.A
About our Forest Classes
Pre-School Class
The Pre-School Class offers a warm and unhurried rhythm of the day where children play, explore, and learn through meaningful experiences in the natural world.
Our mornings begin with free exploration and imaginative play such as climbing, digging, gathering, and creating with natural materials. The children work alongside educators in simple, purposeful tasks such as grinding herbs, sweeping paths, or preparing food. We share a wholesome morning tea and early lunch together, fostering gratitude, independence, and a sense of belonging.
Each session flows through moments of movement, story, song, and stillness, nurturing early language, rhythm, coordination, and emotional confidence. Through seasonal stories and songs, the children come to recognise patterns in nature and in themselves.
Rather than formal instruction, learning arises organically through play, imitation, and discovery. The program gently supports school readiness by cultivating the foundational skills children need for life:
-Physical development through balance, coordination, and outdoor movement
-Social and emotional growth through play, cooperation, and empathy
-Cognitive readiness through storytelling, rhythm, and imaginative problem-solving
-Independence and self-care through shared meals, dressing for the weather, and tidying together
The Pre-School Class provides a nurturing first step for children to grow in confidence, connection, and curiosity before beginning their formal schooling or homeschooling journey.
This program operates independently and does not require formal school or childcare enrolment status and Forest School SA welcomes children from all backgrounds and educational pathways, including homeschoolers and those with alternative learning or health choices.
Primary Class (5-13)
At Forest School SA, learning unfolds in nature through curiosity, creativity, and connection.
Our mixed-age groups allow younger children to learn through imitation and older children to grow in leadership and care. We intentionally craft a balanced cohort so the group becomes a living, breathing community.
With a high ratio of educators to children, each student is seen and supported as an individual. Lessons in literacy and numeracy arise naturally through meaningful experiences—measuring, building, storytelling, journaling, and discovery in the natural world. Every child has personal learning goals, nurtured through individual projects, handwork, and construction using real tools and natural materials.
Our work is curriculum-aligned yet deeply rooted in nature immersion, movement, and practical learning. Through the seasons, children come to know themselves, their peers, and the earth beneath their feet—not only as a place to learn, but as a teacher itself.
