Outdoor Learning

At Marlborough House Vinehall, Outdoor Learning is a vibrant and integral part of school life. Across the curriculum, children are encouraged to step outside the classroom and make the most of our 50 acres of beautiful grounds. These experiences not only enrich academic learning but also help nurture character strengths and essential life skills that students carry with them beyond school.

An important feature of our Outdoor Learning focus is Forest School. With the support of our team of fully accredited Forest School leaders, our youngest children in Nursery all the way up to pupils in Year 8 enjoy a comprehensive Forest School Education as a core part of the curriculum, with weekly sessions in our dedicated woodland setting. This gives every child the opportunity to engage with the natural world across the seasons as well as enhancing their learning potential as they move up through the school and into secondary education.

We believe the holistic approach of Forest School results in our children being independent, creative and resilient learners - an ethos that runs through all aspects of our teaching at MHV. This is outlined in the seven principles of Forest School below.

At MHV Forest School every child is entitled to:

• Explore and discover
• Experience appropriate risk and challenge
• Choose, initiate and drive individual learning and development
• Experience regular success
• Develop positive relationships with themselves and other people
• Treatment as equal, unique and valued individuals

Nursery and RECEption Forest School

At Marlborough House Vinehall we are blessed with ample space for outdoor learning for all ages, in our Nursery and Kindergarten we make use of an area of fenced woodland adjacent to Pre-Prep. The site boasts a seating area, shop, mud kitchen, swing area, open spaces, climbing platforms, plenty of trees and all the quiet and calm needed to run fun and safe Forest School Session. Activities are geared towards children's interests and abilities and are largely child-led. Activities and games are optional with individuals choosing which ever interests them, specific activities can be geared towards curriculum learning viewing our woodland as an extension of the classroom. Children are allowed to explore their own level of risk taking through various gross motor skill activities, whilst in a safe and secure environment, supported by highly trained staff. Art is always included in the session through the use of mixed media activities, activities include paint making, charcoal drawing, splat painting, painting with extra long brushes high up in the trees and leaf rubbing. 

Forest School is often the first time children will have contact with tools, and using them in a safe way is of course paramount. Children can take home what ever they make during the sessions. During the sessions each of the seven areas of the Early Years learning are met and can be expanded upon if individuals need extra support. Forest School is offered all year round to Nursery, Kindergarten and Reception on a rolling schedule. This provision prepares our learners for a continuation of Forest School through Pre-Prep and into the Prep School at our larger site. 

Years 1 - 4 Forest School

From the first day of Forest School in Year 1, the Pre-prep children are introduced to our special dedicated Forest School site down in the woods. This unique setting offers the perfect stimulus for creative and self motivated learning as the children develop confidence in their ability to overcome natural obstacles and tinker towards solutions. They develop essential problem-solving skills and a deep connection to the natural world.

Whether its crafting forest mobiles, whittling woodland pixies, sculpting clay mini beasts, weaving spider webs or building bug hotels, every session offers new opportunities to learn through hands-on experience and imaginative play.

Our beautiful woodland setting provides the catalyst for all that is to follow as children develop self-confidence to engage in their own explorations and discoveries. Using their newly acquired skills combined with all the natural resources that nature has to offer they have the freedom to make their own artistic creations as well as building dens, exploring habitats and getting messy in the mud kitchen; the freedom to follow their imagination, embrace adventure and grow through play.

Years 5 - 8 Forest School

For children in Years 5 to 8, Forest School at MHV offers a powerful opportunity to step outside the traditional classroom and into a world where learning is led by curiosity, challenge, and deep connection with nature.

At this stage of development, pupils benefit immensely from the Forest School approach. It’s more than outdoor learning - it’s a nurturing process that supports social, emotional, spiritual, physical, and intellectual growth. In a natural setting, away from the structure and expectations of daily school life, pupils are encouraged to take risks, solve real-world problems, and discover more about who they are and how they interact with the world around them.

Risk-taking in Forest School is purposeful and empowering. Whether it’s learning to use tools safely, building a fire, or navigating team challenges, pupils are constantly expanding their comfort zones. This fosters independence, resilience, and creativity. Risk is seen not just as the potential for physical harm, but as part of life’s broader challenges - emotional, social, and cognitive - and learning to manage these helps pupils become more confident and capable individuals.

Each session is led by HATCH, a specialist Forest School provider with a dedicated team of experts who tailor the experience to meet the developmental needs of each age group. For our Years 5–8 pupils, this means a balance of structure and freedom: guided activities that build advanced skills and confidence, while still allowing room for self-direction and imaginative exploration.

Children are offered a wide variety of activities - from shelter building, tool work, and whittling, to nature-based art, tracking, and reflection practices. Sessions are entirely child-led, offering pupils the autonomy to follow their interests, make decisions, and work collaboratively. This autonomy is particularly valuable for upper Prep children, supporting their growing need for independence and self-awareness.

Ultimately, Forest School for Years 5 to 8 is about more than learning in nature. It’s about learning from nature - and from oneself. Pupils leave each session not just with new practical skills, but with a stronger sense of self, enhanced teamwork and problem-solving abilities, and a deep-rooted connection to the natural world.

Little Explorers Toddler Group

Each week we run a Little Explorers toddler group which is free to all children. The aim of our toddler group is to foster a love of nature, magic and adventure, through creative sessions, free play and time spent learning together.