wild about play

outdoor NURSERY

We are a full time outdoor education nursery for children aged 2-5 years old operating from 9am until 3pm.

FOREST SCHOOL outdoor NURSERY

Our aim is to help our children have the best possible start to life physically, emotionally and cognitively. Our high staff to child ratios 1:4  with amazing educators allows for a very close and engaged experience for our children helping them thrive. We believe that children are continually learning from their surroundings and the outdoors is the perfect place for them to do so whilst creating a connection to nature in the community that gives an important sense of belonging to each other and their natural environment.

 

Wild About Play Nursery and Preschool in Putney Senses Exploring

EYFS LEARNING

Combining the Early Years Framework Stage (EYFS) curriculum with outdoor, child-directed play, our nursery sessions give children the opportunity to grow and learn in a practical, hands-on way. Our qualified practitioners curate engaging sessions that spark the imagination and allow children to thrive in all seven stages outlined by the EYFS curriculum to help shape their formative years and prepare them for life. We prioritise the following areas for development:

  • Building lifelong cognitive foundations for physical and mental health
  • Curious learning and creativity
  • Expression unique to each child

Find out more by clicking on each section here.

WIld About Play Outdoor Nursery Pre School Putney London 7

What is a forest school?

Forest school is a child centred way of learning that embraces the outdoors and offers inspirational holistic learning for children and adults. With its origins in Denmark, Forest school philosophy and learning has recently grown in its significance and popularity in the UK for its ability to support exploration, inspirational play and learning and supported risk taking.

At its best Forest School is a long term and regular programme that unleashes individual learning, curiosity and inspires the child to create becoming risk taking, resilient, happy learners along the way.

Here at Wild about Play we embrace the best of Forest school. Our children thrive in our roof top garden everyday and are in the woods in the centre of Putney every day exploring, creating, collaborating and critically problem solving. Forest school offers a fantastic grounding and education for nursery and primary age students. For more details on Forest school not contained on this page please visit the Forest school association website on

www.forestschoolassociation.org

Wild About Play Nursery and Preschool in Putney Bird Spotting

What are the advantages of a Forest School?

Forest school methodology produces resilient, independent and enriched learners who thrive in hands on experiences in natural settings.

The connection with nature is distinct and ongoing as children thrive in the wild and develop a deep empathy as they play, understand and problem solve in nature. This understanding leads to concerns over sustainability and a distinct awareness of where their place is on the planet.

Many educators and parents site the notable length of concentration that many forest school learners have as their senses are all heightened in the wild and this translates back into anything they decide to focus on even when indoors.

Above all forest school and being immersed in nature does wonders for children’s mental health and happiness.

Wild About Play Nursery and Preschool in Putney Waiting Lists Now Open

What are the disadvantages/ cons of Forest school?

Leaving forest school education and joining school after nursery and preschool can be hard for some children.

Some parents and educators relay that children find the “big school” processes and procedures hard to adjust to after being in the wild for all of the early years and this can cause some distress. More research is needed in this area.

At Wild about Play we are proud to embrace the best of best of forest school while also giving children a taste for “big school” and making sure they are prepared for some of the expectations as they move from nursery to reception. Based on a beautiful roof top garden on top of a school we do this by ensuring our children receive all the benefits of forest school while also being exposed to some of the routines required in reception and later in primary school. With our location on the roof top garden of a school we are fortunate to have the ownership and space of a “home away from home experience” while also having the 22 acres of woodland in Putney and Barnes on our doorstop as well as a beautiful river which we use for our boats and raft making.

Our children are immersed in the wild and yet are not too far away from the reality of school so it is all “normalised” in their routines and individual brain connections!

 

Wild About Play Nursery and Preschool in Putney

Registration Process

Step 1: Register your interest in our sessions to begin the process of joining our waiting list

Step 2: Join us for an open visit session and finalise your childs’ placement with us

Step 3: Attend some of the settling in session and watch your child grow.

Our Hours

We run our nursery days from sessions 9am-3pm every day. 

Please speak to our team during your booking to discuss your options.

FEES

Our fees for 3 year olds are  £85 per day, and £87 for two year olds with a minimum of two sessions a week required to ensure your child gets the most out of our nursery. Before your child does a full day with us we generally advise a minimum of two settling in days (dependent on the child) at £65 per session (usually 2 hours per session).

We have a one- off enrolment fee of £495  (non-refundable) which secures your child’s place at our nursery and includes a set of Didrikson’s waterproofs for your child.

We bill on a termly basis – terms are usually 12 weeks, excluding a week for half-term. Government funding and childcare vouchers are accepted – please speak to our team if you’re interested in using these. Please note that we access the Government funding on your behalf whether this is for the 15 hours universal entitlement, 30 hours or 2 year old funding. Please speak to us for more details or view the Government website.

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Just Some Of Our Recent Reviews

My son loves every minute of his time at WaP. There is a real sense of community at WaP, the teachers are dedicated, warm and engaged. They help the kids to grow and develop brilliant life skills. My son has a particularly special bond with his key person but loves all the staff at WaP. As a teacher myself, I am thrilled to be sending my son to such a fantastic school that incorporates outdoor play and experiences with learning.
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felicity serhan Avatar
felicity serhan
3/20/2024
My son has been going to the Wild About Play Holiday Camps since he was 3 years old. He has been in rain and shine, frost and heatwave and he asks me to book it. He has now done 7 camps I think and we're about to book him for a 8th over Easter. What he loves isn't simply the forest school aspect - in fact, I'd say his main reasons for loving it are the focus on play (it seems very child led) and the excellent, warm staff who never talk down to the children. Wild About Play we love you!
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Iona Tallia Avatar
Iona Tallia
3/18/2024
Amazing in every way! My 3.5year old attended for a few days in the half term holiday and came out so so happy (and muddy!) every single day, saying “it was so cool Mum” and “I loved it” and “can I go there every day not my usual school?!” Thank you to all the teachers - it’s truly a special place.
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Florence Brandt Avatar
Florence Brandt
2/28/2024
My son has been going to Wild About Play during his term breaks from nursery and loves it. I love how it is all day as well. He always comes back knackered from all the fun he has whilst there. I cannot wait for my daughter to be old enough to attend as well. No complaints - and from what I can see, he loves it (and I give him options of what activities to do during the break and this one, he always wants to do).
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KHL J Avatar
KHL J
2/27/2024
We absolutely love WAP! The resources and activities are fantastic. My favourite thing about WAP is the staff. They are mature, kind, fun, well-qualified and experienced. I know that my son is in very safe hands. Highly recommend.
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Sarah W Avatar
Sarah W
2/23/2024
I cannot speak highly enough of Wild about Play! Nestled in the heart of Putney, this forest nursery is a gem. The team of caring and passionate leaders create an enriching environment that blends the best of nature with engaging indoor activities. Their hybrid model exposes children to the wonders of the outdoors and provides a diverse range of learning experiences. If you're looking for a place where your child can thrive and explore, I recommend Wild about Play!
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Juliet Carter Avatar
Juliet Carter
2/23/2024
My youngest has been at summer camp at Wild About Play the last month. He’s loved it! And so do we!
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Nadia Zidi Avatar
Nadia Zidi
8/29/2023
We enrolled our son after Easter when he was 2.5 and we are so happy with our choice in Wild About Play. The outpost nursery offers something closer to what my Swedish husband grew up with - spending time outdoors and in nature as much as possible in childhood. When we moved to London last year we were excited to learn this option exists in the UK and welcomed the opportunity to give our son something unique yet close to home. WAP has not disappointed us - Erik has blossomed here in only a few short months expanding his social skills, speech and comfort outdoors. We are really happy with the level of care from the staff at WAP and look forward to our next term 🙂
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Kathleen Sullivan Avatar
Kathleen Sullivan
8/29/2023
i

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Curious learning and creativity EYFS at WIld About Play