New Hackney Forest School booking email - bookings.education@hackney.gov.uk
Bookings and enquiries only to be made via this email ONLY
Please read the booking procedure below.
Bookings can not be requested in advance. Please refer to our booking opening dates on our term date sheet attached below.
MAY HALF TERM bookings open on Friday 26th April 2024 from 8am onwards.
We offer Forest School Holiday Play Schemes for children aged 5-11 year old during half terms, Easter and Summer School term holidays. Check dates below.
This is a great opportunity for your children to connect and engage with nature through a variety of outdoor learning experiences including tree climbing, den building, mini-beast hunting, wood-crafts with tools, fire-making, cooking and many more.
Get your children to experience and embrace the outdoors and natural world.
We aim to attend a trip once a week, every Friday through-out the play schemes; Tottenham marshes, Hampstead Heath, Highgate woods, Queens Wood, museums and coastal school on the beach!
Trips will be advertised on the activity timetable plan if a trip has been organised.
Research shows that working together outdoors in a natural environment is beneficial to a sense of well-being, promotes self-confidence and self-esteem, and encourages the promotion of good communication and social skills.
Getting Ready to Attend the Playscheme
The staff that will be your children's FS teachers. Lauren, Genevieve, and Dilara. Important information regarding your lead practitioners:
Lauren - Hackney Forest School Lead
Genevieve - Hackney Forest School Lead
Dilara - Forest School Lead
Weather awareness
It is important for parents/carers to keep an eye on daily weather forecasts to prepare the correct clothing. Please provide a bag of spare clothing and shoes (labelled).
Drop-off & Pick up
Drop-off
Drop-off will be from the garden gate to your right when entering through the main gate at Clapton Park Children's Centre, 161 Daubeney Road, E5 0EP.Gate will be open at 9am by FS Leads
- Drop-off will be from 9am - 10am
- If you will be dropping off after 10, please let FS Leads know so drop off can be arranged in the forest
Pick-up
The garden gate will be open from 4pm for parents. Children will be back froom the forest before 4pm.
- Collection is between 4pm - 4:30pm (late fee will apply after 4:30pm)
- If you wish to pick-up your child earlier, please speak to the FS Lead in the morning. Arrangements will then be made for you to collect your child from the forest or while we are the centre during lunch time.
Essential Items
- All children must have a packed lunch provided - please ensure there are no nuts
- Water bottles
Clothing Attire
Wet weather
- Layers such as (thermals in winter season, long sleeved tops and trousers)
- Water proofs (jackets and trousers or all-in-ones)
- wellingtons or waterproof walking boots
Hot weather/summer time
- Long sleeved top
- trousers down to the ankles
- closed in shoes
- hat
- UV protected clothes as an option
If you choose for your child not to wear a long sleeve top, we will then not be liable for any infections, cuts, bites or injuries that can be prevented from wearing long sleeve.
Spare clothes (tops, trousers, socks and shoes)
Spare shoes incase they become wet inside from puddle fun!
The spare bag can be left on the white rack during their time at the playscheme.
Medication/Allergy Requirements
- Medication must be IN DATE
- Children with medication will need to ensure they provide the medication with a detailed label from the doctors (name, DOB, address)
- a clear health care plan completed
If these 3 requirements have not been met, your child will be unable to attend.
No antibiotics or medication should be stored in children's bags for children to administer themselves.
Antibiotics are not allowed to be stored or administered to a child at the centre.
Structure of a Forest School day
- 8:30am staff members will be getting FS session equipment ready.
- Drop-off from 9am - 9:30am.
- The group will get ready and head over from 10 am.
- FS session 10 am - 11:45 am.
- Lunch time back at centre from 12pm - 2pm (children and staff will take their lunch breaks).
- FS session 2:15 pm - 3:45 pm.
- Back at centre at 4pm.
- Collection available from 4pm.
- Late pick up after 4:30pm will be charged a late fee (see your registration form for terms and conditions).
- 4:30pm - 5pm one staff member will be left to clean up and sanitise equipment.
If you have any further questions, please contact 'bookings.education@hackney.gov.uk'