Testimonials

  "Esther very ably balanced giving the children the freedom to explore the environment independently with ensuring they were safe. I would highly recommend Esther’s Forest Schools to everyone she encourages everyone to learn and grow as individuals in the space afforded by the outdoors. The children loved the sessions they had with Esther , they developed their confidence and self-esteem." 

Mrs Littlehailes, St.Lukes COE Primary  

  "Thank you so much to Esther and team for delivering a fantastic forest school skills afternoon to the students at The Manchester Hospital Schools. Students were guided through activities in a supportive environment which enabled all of our students, many with high anxiety to take part in every aspect of the afternoon. The activities stimulated social interactions between pupils who find this extremely challenging. We will 100% be having another event in the near future!" 

Kieran Halliwell, Educational Visits Co-ordinator, Leo Kelly Centre 

 "My three children started to do forest school with Esther last September when it was introduced as part of their primary school curriculum. They absolutely love it - they really look forward to the sessions which as a parent I feel are well planned and executed. The lessons are completely age appropriate, tailored to the school topic and best of all lots of fun. My five year old literally jumps up and down with excitement on forest school mornings and then comes home full of stories of deer ears, owls eyes and porridge made over a campfire. My 8 and 10 year olds are equally enthusiastic and have come home talking of creating snow cities and building dens. In a time when schools and children are under so much pressure to perform academically it’s lovely to see my children experiencing a different way to learn and they clearly benefit enormously from it." 

Kelly, Glossop 

“I originally took our youngest son to the forest in the dark days of 2020 where it was one of the few classes you could do. Amongst the trees was this wonderful class full of respite for tired mums and things to do and explore. I continued to take him and his older sister joined Little Explorers as well and these classes helped enormously in their development from playing in the mud kitchen, exploring to find dinosaur eggs, swinging in the hammocks and all the creative activities as well as a story each time. They have loved toasting marshmallows and tasty snacks to eat as well as meeting new friends. I have loved having a chat with other like minded parents and catching up with Esther each week and there is no doubt that Little Explorers has enriched all our lives. Our youngest is going to school full time from January and as I put up the star he had made in the forest at the weekend I reflected that I will miss these classes a lot.”

Vikki

 “Where would we be without Esther’s wonderful forest school? Myself & my little boy Oscar started coming here late summer 2020. It was our first “baby” group at 8 months old as he was born just 7 weeks before the coronavirus hit and any baby class that i had planned to attend had been shut down. We started in the “babes in the woods” session and I count my lucky stars that I found it when I did. It is the perfect place to get out in nature, chat with other mums, swing in a hammock together & cosy up by the campfire. Whatever the weather, we were there - wrapped up and ready to embrace everything this wonderful session had to offer. At 18 months we moved up to the little explorers session and still come each Monday to this day, (he is almost 4) along with his baby sister who also loves coming along and peacefully sleeping in her sling.Esther is just the loveliest teacher & all the kiddies are so fond of her especially my little boy. We even had his 3rd birthday party here so he could invite all his friends & family (even some from Ireland) to show them his favourite place. I can’t recommend this enough - from the bug hunting theme, the planned activities, the food, the sweet bags to take home… it was perfect!! There was nothing that Esther didn’t think of. I will be forever grateful for inside out forest school and all of our special memories made here. Thank you so much, xxx" Nadine and Oscar, Leek  

“My daughter is visually impaired and autistic. Forest school was one of her favourite places to be as she loved being outdoors with lots of space for her to investigate. Being child led learning meant that she was able to enjoy all the activities in her own time which was perfect for her as she struggles with being around other children. Her favourite equipment was the rope bridges which helped her learn to balance and would give her a sensory thrill to bounce and learn to catch herself. I highly recommend Inside out Forest school to every child. It is a fun, safe and inclusive group that makes you feel part of a family. I can't wait for the possibility of weekend little explorer sessions now that she is at preschool during the week and for her to be old enough to join the holiday clubs.”

Gabriella, Leek

“I originally took our youngest son to the forest in the dark days of 2020 where it was one of the few classes you could do. Amongst the trees was this wonderful class full of respite for tired mums and things to do and explore. I continued to take him and his older sister joined Little Explorers as well and these classes helped enormously in their development from playing in the mud kitchen, exploring to find dinosaur eggs, swinging in the hammocks and all the creative activities as well as a story each time. They have loved toasting marshmallows and tasty snacks to eat as well as meeting new friends. I have loved having a chat with other like minded parents and catching up with Esther each week and there is no doubt that Little Explorers has enriched all our lives. Our youngest is going to school full time from January and as I put up the star he had made in the forest at the weekend I reflected that I will miss these classes a lot.”

Vikki

   "There is no better way for a child to learn than through the freedom of exploring the forest. Inside Out Forest School enabled my children to develop confidence, learn new skills and gain independence through the adventure of discovery and taking risks. Whether they were building shelters, carving tent pegs, weaving dream catchers or capturing their imagination in troll slime hunting or elf searching, the sessions offered an abundance of opportunities for the children to learn essential skills in team-building, leadership and co-operation. And the children had tons of fun, and plenty of fresh air and exercise, in the great outdoors!!"  Sarah 

"I started taking my little boy to Inside Out Forest School when he was 18 months old. It looked like a lovely alternative to the baby and toddler groups on offer and we weren’t disappointed! From the first session we were hooked on Forest School and continued to go weekly until my son started school at 4 years old. It was the highlight of our week and we made so many special memories together in that woodland. Memories we will both treasure forever.
 

Unlike other baby and toddler groups I found we both benefitted from our time at these sessions. My son loved exploring, swinging in the hammocks and toasting marshmallows and I loved being out in nature, listening to the birds and being surrounded by trees - a true tonic to the pressures of Mum life!
 

Esther makes each session fun and it’s clear to see how much planning and thought goes into them. From the different theme each week and the activities on offer to the snack bag and song and stories around the camp fire. It’s a great mix of free time and structured learning for the children.
 

I highly recommend Inside Out Forest School. It’s a great asset to have in our local community."
 

Natalie and Zach

  “We loved exploring the woods together, making natural crafts, sharing stories, learning about nature, experiencing the changes in seasons and being part of the group each week. The hot chocolate and marshmallows were an added bonus! I think it really helped the girls to build their resilience, creativity, confidence and imagination. It taught them (and me!) that there's no such thing as bad weather, if you've got the right gear 😂 and that there's lots of fun to be had in the woods all year round. The girls always loved going home and telling their dad and grandparents about their adventures.  It is SUCH a good way to help your children to develop their confidence, and skills (drilling and hammering particular favourites!) whilst learning about the wonders of the woods, animals, plants, seasons, and themselves. Hands-on play, creative activities, stories, songs, the fire circle, hammocks, mud, leaves, slack line, teepee, mud kitchen, the list goes on....  My girls started going when they were 2, and the walk up to the site was an expedition in itself ("how many sticks and leaves DO we need to collect en route?" 😂) and kept going till they started school and there was always something new to do and learn.  The girls now love going back "all by themselves" for holiday camps where they get to have fun in the woods all day long!  Hands down the best weekly activity I did with my kids in that precious time before they started school (even if on particularly chilly or wet mornings I didn't always fancy togging up and going, we were always glad we did!)”Julie, Leek  

"I have taken both my daughters to Little Explorers and it is the best group we've been to. The Glossop site is fantastic, with a range of outdoor environments including woodland and a stream for children to explore. The Forest School leaders are very friendly and welcoming to both children and their grown ups and the groups have a strong ethos of child led play and learning. It's great to have a reason to get outdoors with the kids and even when the weather is less than ideal the sessions are still great fun. I'm looking forward to taking our youngest to Little Explorers in the near future!"

Jack

   "Having attended 3 of Esther's forest school groups on Shire Hill with my 2 boys, I couldn't help but be impressed with her calm and measured approach whilst interacting with the children. Esther clearly plans each session very well ensuring they are a great blend of fun games and outdoor education. Esthers experience as a teacher is clear to see and the kids love her sessions. They will definitely be going again." Andrew   

 ‘We’ve been attending the home education group in leek with Esther for 4 years now and it’s the highlight of my boys week. Aged 11,8 and 5 they’ve made some amazing friends and learnt some brilliant skills. Esther is an amazing leader and teacher to the children and involves them in everything. Activities are child led and always educational but fun. There’s always so much to do every week, considering there is a massive range in ages, the sessions are made to suit every age and need. We can’t fault our group and we absolutely love attending and will be doing so for as long as possible!’ 

"Inside out became very special to us when my teen son moved to secondary school and really struggled to attend. After lots of difficulties we reduced his time in a school environment and joined a very welcoming 'tribe' in the woods with Esther. He loved the calmness the woods gave to him and the time to just 'be' without demands and pressure. No judgement on his quirkiness, sense of humour and everyone was happy to join him in his ideas and he was liked for who he is. He attended the home education group for 2 years and created some beautiful memories which he still talks about today."

  “The Home Ed sessions are well organised, with set activities to do as well as free play. My kids loved playing in hammocks, climbing and being around friends. They also learn a lot of new skills. It became a regular place to meet the same families, which can be tricky otherwise in the home Ed community. You won’t regret trying any of the sessions. The kids learn skills they don’t always get the opportunity to learn otherwise. For me as the parent, the peace of the woodland surrounding while kids are doing what they should be, is the best feeling!”

Holly  

  “When we joined the home-ed group, Luki was 3 years old I think and I was so happy and relieved that we found what we were looking for. Me and my son have made friends and had lots of fun together. It's been very nice to see how, over time, he's become more confident in the group and how the relationships formed and developed into friendships, so I could step back and just watch him enjoying himself. For home-ed families this is so important! We enjoy the prepared activities and learning about nature, cooking on fire and having relaxing time in the safe and friendly place. Thank you Esther for providing this experience for us.

Luki's words:‘I love the crafts and learning the wild skills. I adore the food we make on fire (mainly the pancakes) and I like playing with my friends in the woods every week, we're a good team.’I hope your home-ed sessions will get more and more interest and attract more families from the area!” 

Luki & Šárka