Wise Oak Forest School

What is Family Forest Play? This 2 hour session brings families of all ages together in a woodland for open-ended good old-fashioned free play. Some families like to play as a family unit, some children go off and explore alone or with other children and some families join other families in their quests to have fun. Either way it's the perfect way to have children lead the play. Sometimes we climb, make clay, swing, explore. Some times we set off to do one thing but another thing takes our fancy and that's OK. We provide ropes, cords, tarps, hammocks, woodland ID charts, activity guide sheets and access to the brook to help you play but those are not always necessary to enjoy your time. Towards the end of our session, we come together to toast marshmallows over the campfire and share what we have enjoyed. We also like to share ideas for future visits. At the moment, we don't have any toilet facilities. Please take the time to read the Terms and Conditions of this Event.

🌳 HOME ED EXPLORERS A monthly woodland adventure for home-educated children aged 5–15 Adventure • Friendship • Freedom • Nature • Confidence 🌿 What is Home Ed Explorers? Home Ed Explorers has been created especially for home-educated children who want to spend time outdoors, make new friends and learn through real-life experiences. There isn't a set lesson plan that every child has to follow. Instead, children are encouraged to explore, discover, create, play and follow their own interests, with experienced Forest School leaders providing optional activities, guidance and challenges throughout the day. One child might spend the morning building a den with friends. Another might want to learn how to safely use a woodland tool. Someone else might explore the woodland, make something from natural materials or simply enjoy some good old-fashioned outdoor play. There is space for all of it. 🔥 What might we get up to? Every session will be different, depending on the season, the woodland and, most importantly, the children. Activities and experiences may include: • 🔥 Fire lighting and campfire cooking • 🏹 Archery • 🌲 Den building • 🪓 Safe and experience-appropriate tool use • 🌿 Woodland exploration • 🍂 Nature crafts • 🫐 Foraging • 🪢 Rope work • 🧭 Survival skills • 💦 Mud and water play • 🍁 Seasonal woodland activities • 🌳 Free play and child-led exploration Children will also have opportunities to develop problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, resilience and independence through hands-on experiences. 🧭 Child-led, with plenty of opportunity to learn We believe children learn enormously when they are given the freedom to choose, explore, experiment and take appropriate risks. Home Ed Explorers combines child-led Forest School with optional leader-led experiences. Children don't have to take part in every activity. They can choose what interests them, spend time developing their own ideas and return to activities when they're ready. Our role is to provide a safe environment, introduce new experiences, offer encouragement and challenge, and give children the space to discover what they can do. The woodland is the classroom, and curiosity is encouraged. 💚 Why Forest School? Forest School provides children with opportunities to learn in ways that simply aren't possible or as enriching as indoors. A child choosing to carefully balance across a fallen tree is developing physical confidence. A group choosing to work together to build a den is developing communication and teamwork. Learning to use a tool safely develops concentration, responsibility and independence. Working out how to light a fire develops patience, problem-solving and perseverance. Exploring the woodland encourages curiosity and connection with nature. And sitting around the campfire with new friends? That's simply one of the joys of being outdoors together. 👣 A woodland community for home-educated children Home education can offer children incredible freedom, and we want Home Ed Explorers to complement that freedom by providing opportunities for community, friendship and shared experiences. Our sessions welcome mixed ages, allowing children to learn alongside one another and develop friendships with children at different stages of their home-education journey. We hope Home Ed Explorers becomes more than somewhere children come for a few hours each month. We want it to become a woodland community where children feel comfortable being themselves, trying new things and discovering what they're capable of. 🛡️ Safety, boundaries and independence We encourage children to develop age-appropriate independence, confidence and risk awareness, whilst ensuring clear safety boundaries are maintained. Our woodland area is not completely fenced, so children must understand the importance of staying within our designated boundaries and following our safety instructions. Appropriate risk is an important part of Forest School. Children will be supported to understand and manage risk rather than being prevented from experiencing every challenge. If your child has additional needs, or there are any circumstances that may affect their ability to follow our safety boundaries or instructions, please contact us before booking. We are happy to discuss your child's individual needs and determine whether Home Ed Explorers is suitable for them. 👩‍🏫 Who leads Home Ed Explorers? Home Ed Explorers is led by experienced and qualified Forest School practitioners who are passionate about outdoor learning and helping children develop confidence, independence and a genuine connection with nature. Karen Karen is a qualified teacher, Level 3 Forest School Leader, WILDpassport Practitioner, Outdoor and Paediatric First Aider, and is currently training as an Outdoor Mental Health Practitioner. Heather Heather is a Level 3 Forest School Leader, Therapeutic Forest Practitioner, Outdoor and Paediatric First Aider and delivers basic Yoga for Forest School. Together, we aim to provide a safe, welcoming and encouraging environment where children can explore, take on challenges, learn practical skills and enjoy the freedom of the woodland. 🎒 What should children bring? Home Ed Explorers takes place outdoors, whatever the weather, so children need to come prepared to explore, get muddy and enjoy the elements! Please bring: • A packed lunch • Plenty of drinking water • Waterproof coat and trousers • Warm layers • Sturdy, suitable footwear • Spare clothes • Hat and gloves during colder weather • Any personal items your child may need during the day (just not electronics) Sessions will run in all weather conditions unless high wind gusts make it unsafe to use the woodland. A campfire snack will be provided during the day. Children can eat their packed lunch and snacks when they are hungry rather than having to wait for a set lunchtime. There’s a toilet and hand-washing facility available in the woodland. ________________________________________ 📅 Session Information First session: Wednesday 9th September 2026 Time: 10am – 3pm **Introductory offer for the 9th September 2026, each paying Explorer can add a non-paying Home Educator for FREE** Location: Skitters Woods, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan Exact location and arrival information will be provided following booking. Frequency: Monthly, with the possibility of additional sessions as demand grows. Age: 5/6 (year 1 age) –15 years Maximum group size: 12 children Booking: Places are booked per session, so there is no commitment to book a block of dates. Price: £35 per child Sibling discounts are available.

This event is to join a waiting list for a learning community opening up in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan. Founded by Karen Williams, teacher and Forest School leader looking to enrich children's lives at their pace. It is a community for those who have chosen to deregister and home educate and are looking for a space of community for learning to come together through experiences and projects. It's a privately run community so there will be a cost to cover staffing and overheads. But we will have dedicated, talented facilitators in music, arts, languages and more with an outside area to access Forest School type experiences. We want children to feel comfortable in themselves and know that the learning journey they choose is their own. Self directed education has a plethora of benefits. Copy and paste into your browser Peter Gray's Ted Talk on how self-directed education looks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g1zlU5vbMk We currently propose Tuesdays, 9.30am - 3pm, 36 weeks per year, supporting the home education provided by parents for children age 8-15. Cost to be confirmed. Join the list for more information. No commitment at this stage.