Outdoor Learning
At Abbot’s Hill, we believe that some of the very best learning happens outside, and our stunning 76 acre site is the perfect backdrop for Outdoor Learning. The rustle of leaves, the feel of soil between fingers, the thrill of a challenge met and overcome — these are the moments that stay with children long after the school day ends. Woodland School is an integral part of the Prep School curriculum and our Forest Schools are where curiosity is king and no two sessions are ever quite the same. Led by our qualified Forest School practitioner, children are encouraged to explore, investigate, and connect with the natural world in a way that is genuinely joyful and deeply enriching.
In Forest School, children build dens, identify minibeasts and study the seasons, solve problems and take on healthy, age-appropriate risks — all within a carefully managed and safe environment. It is learning that feels like adventure, and adventure that is quietly building skills that will last a lifetime.
Woodland School is about far more than getting outdoors — although we are firmly of the opinion that muddy knees are a sign of a very good day. The benefits run deep. Children develop:
- Resilience — learning to try, fail, adapt, and try again
- Creativity — using natural materials and open-ended challenges to think imaginatively
- Teamwork — negotiating, collaborating, and problem-solving together
- Confidence — taking on challenges in a supportive, unhurried environment
- A love of nature — developing a genuine respect and appreciation for the natural world around them
