Ladybugs and Slugs Forest School is a unique setting situated in the beautiful Cheshire East countryside and adjoining Brereton Heath Nature Reserve.
What makes us unique?
We are a Social Enterprise business. Our mission is to provide groups and sessions for everyone of all ages, outside in nature. Reaping the benefits of lower stress levels, improved moods, motivation and confidence and building new friendships. We actively promote diversity and provide a space for people to feel safe to be themselves. Our core values lead us to ensure all stakeholders, internal and external, benefit from our setting. Any profit stays within the business for improvement and expansion.
In our children’s groups and sessions we use a gentle parenting approach with a high ratio of adult to child. This enables us to fully support each child with high quality interactions. A long with the education theory of Steiner and the Forest School ethos, we use nature and natural resources to nurture and work with each child in a very gentle and compassionate way. Our main areas of focus are emotional development and self regulation, social skills, confidence, resilience and independence.
All our groups take place outside in our gardens or in the woodlands. We have a cosy cabin with a log burner, fire circles and shelters, all of which are available throughout the year, to rest or nap. Winter weather can provide so much exploration and learning opportunities and with the correct clothing children are comfortable, warm and are able to enjoy winter fresh air.
We provide a healthy vegan menu of meals and snacks. Everyone is free to bring any foods in their packed lunches. We grow a lot of our own fruit and vegetables encouraging the children to help plant, tend, harvest, cook, eat and compost.
Our aims at Ladybugs and Slugs:
To offer a spacious and challenging environment for child led learning and play.
Support and develop the capacity for each child to experience and be at ease with self-driven learning and exploration.
To begin to take risks and risk assess situations, allowing the benefits of independence, confidence, resilience and self-care to unfold.
Build each child’s emotional development, supporting them with strategies of self-regulation.
Support the development of creative expression for each individual.
Encourage every child to look after themselves, look after each other and look after our world.
