🌿 Welcome to Little Forest Friends

🌱 Our Approach to Learning

At Little Forest Friends we follow the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and incorporate learning in a safe and secure outdoor environment, where free play, fresh air, exposure to the natural world and physical activity are an integral part of learning.  We have a full-time Forest School Leader in the pre-school and the children therefore have full access to all the forest school initiatives.

We continue to use ‘objective led’ and ‘in the moment’ planning, which allows us to follow the children’s interests and plan activities around what will inspire them, whilst also carefully incorporating progressive skills and knowledge-based curriculum linked to the seven areas of learning.  We generally have a theme each week (some run for two weeks if appropriate) and plan for both indoor and outdoor continuous provision activities whatever the weather!  We have a mixture of adult-led and child-initiated activities and play lots of phase 1 phonics games to develop the children’s early reading skills.

🌳 Outdoor Learning & Clothing

We are passionate about creating a setting where children can:
  • Explore confidently
  • Learn through play
  • Develop independence
  • Build a lifelong love of the outdoors

Little Forest Friends Curriculum overview

As we spend significant time outdoors, appropriate clothing is essential.

What should children wear?
Footwear
  • Walking boots or Wellington boots to be kept at Little Forest Friends
  • Several pairs of socks in cold weather
Clothing
  • Long-sleeved tops and long trousers (all year round, to keep warm and to protect your child from scratches, bites and sunburn)
  • Layered clothing, appropriate for the season. In colder months, we recommend children will need at least three layers to keep warm. Bottom half: long johns, trousers, waterproof dungarees. Top half: base layer, long-sleeved top, fleece, waterproof jacket.
Accessories
  • Hat (sun hat or warm hat depending on season)
  • Waterproof gloves
✅ Clothes should be old and suitable for getting dirty
❌ Dresses and skirts are not suitable for forest activities
📚 Recording Your Child’s Learning
We use an online learning journal called Tapestry.
When your child joins:
  • You will receive a login
  • You can view observations of your child’s learning
  • You can contribute your own observations and experiences
Our observations focus on:
  • ‘Wow’ moments
  • Brief snapshots of learning whilst allows staff to stay fully engaged in supporting children’s play and development.
We value strong parental partnerships, as they help us understand your child as a whole. We very much value your own observations and experiences on Tapestry allowing us to work together to give your child the best start in their preschool and school journey
We are looking forward to a fun-filled and enriching year with your children.

👩‍🏫 Our Team

Mr Max Williams – Early Years Leader

Mrs Emily Butler – Acting Deputy Headteacher, Little Forest Friends Lead Teacher

Mrs Steph Tucker – Full Time, Level 3 Early Years Educator and Level 3 Forest School Leader

Mrs Katerina Suska – Full Time, Early Years Practitioner and Level 3 Forest School Leader

Mrs Asha James– Full Time, Level 3 Early Years Educator

Miss Kersty Merison – Part time, Level 3 Early Years Educator

Miss Kimberley Bird – Part time, Level 3 Early Years Educator

Mrs Anaid Petrosian, Miss Abi Finch –Early Years Teaching Assistants

Miss Lucy Smith – Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant

Mrs Gemma Ladyman, Mrs Shazia Hassim– Midday Supervisors

Mrs Tracy Brown – Administrator

 

Staffing updates for 2026/2027 will be shared soon.

To register your interest, please print and complete the application form and return it via email to 📩 littleforestfriends@haddenham-st-marys.bucks.sch.uk.

Little Forest Friends application form

Little Forest Friends Prospectus

Little Forest Friends Admission and Fees Policy 2026/2027

Little Forest Friends Schedule of Fees September 2026-2027

 

Parent/Provider Agreements

For funded entitlement

https://earlyyearsweb.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/9-months-to-4-years-old-funding/useful-documents/

If you are using funded hours at the pre school any remaining funded hours for that week can be used towards the Before and After School Club, Happy Hedgehogs. Please include Happy Hedgehogs hours on the funded agreement under ‘Number of funded hours per day’ on a separate line on page 2.

 

For non funded hours 

Parent and Provider agreement for non funded 2, 3 and 4 year olds.doc

📩 Contact Us
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: