Termtime Sessions
Weekday outdoor sessions for home-educated children aged 7+
Nestled in the seclusion of the Chiltern Hills, our location offers tranquillity and natural beauty.
![20231031_0951060_53344265738_o](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20231031_0951060_53344265738_o-scaled.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
“My 11 and 8 year old daughters have attended Mikes sessions. He is kind, caring and considerate. He has helped my daughters confidence to grow and made my children feel very welcome and included.
His style of teaching is inclusive to all and he is very enthusiastic and empathic. My children have learnt a so much with his help and he is a wonderful teacher. We highly recommend!” Veronica Brodie
Embracing learning outdoors!
Our flagship program, an established weekly OFSTED registered session, serves as the foundation of our offerings. Set in the great outdoors and equipped with facilities for warmth and comfort during colder months, children immerse themselves in an engaging bushcraft experience infused with applied science, geography, history, geology, English and social sciences.
Some of the fascinating projects weโve delved into include dissecting a badger and reconstructing its skeleton, transforming a van into a functioning loudspeaker, crafting cheese, carving spoons, and even setting up a Christmas market. These sessions are child-led, encouraging abundant movement, occasional hikes, navigation, and exploration.
If your child possesses an adventurous spirit, a curiosity for learning, and a love for the great outdoors, we currently have available spaces at our OFSTED registered Tuesday program near Whipsnade Zoo in Hertfordshire. Donโt hesitate to reach out; weโd love to chat with you!
Next Trial Date:
Tues 10th September 2024
1030h – 1330h (short trial – drop-off) ยฃ35
0930h – 1530h (full day trial – drop-off) ยฃ60
Nr Ivinghoe Beacon, Hertfordshire / Bedfordshire / Buckinghamshire Border
Book a trial
Take a look at our Project Gallery!
When are the sessions held?
Tuesdays (termtime) 0930h – 1530h
This is a drop-off situation for home educated children who are confident to be away from their parents for the day.
We also cater for children who are educated other than in school (EOTAS) and for those who require an alternative provision as well as attending school.
Where is the site?
Our beautiful secluded site nestled in the Chiltern Hills close to Ivinghoe Beacon and Nr Whipsnade Zoo on the Hertfordshire / Bedfordshire / Buckinghamshire boarder is a secret treasure bursting with geological and anthropological history.
The private site is OFSTED registered and has no public access. The site is safe yet feels free and wild.
What age children can attend?
7 – 15 (split into two groups based on age or suitability)
Who leads the sessions?
These sessions are overseen by qualified teacher, osteopath and bushcrafter Mike Williams and led by the very experienced and capable support team.
Our staff are DBS checked, level 3 safeguarding trained, first aid trained, food hygiene / safety trained (we regularly cook on the fire) and fully insured.ย
Do you accept childcare vouchers?
As an OFSTED registered setting we are able to accept childcare vouchers.
Alternatively you can reclaim a significant percentage of our fees through the childcare element of Tax Credits / Universal Credits.
Please ask for details.
What are the fees?
For families personally funding their home-educating activities the fees are discounted at ยฃ60 per session with a half termly (6 week) commitment, which can be paid in instalments or in full before the start of term.
We offer a 30% sibling discount to these families also.
Our corporate rates for County Council and School clients (EOTAS, EBSNA) are ยฃ120 per session and include reporting. This includes those using an EOTAS personal budget.
We operate a thorough intake process to ensure that the setting and your child are a good match. This includes a completed suitability questionnaire / registration form along with a one-offย ยฃ100 registration fee payable upon accepting the place.
How physical are the sessions?
Very. While there is plenty of opportunity to sit round the fire or find a quiet spot for peaceful relaxation along with much focused project work, many of the sessions involve lots of movement including hiking. The site is large enough for a mini-hike, but we also occasionally venture out onto the Ridgeway (the ancient walkway high up above the valley) which offers a number of beautiful day-long geology hikes. We will always gauge the energy and stamina of the children in attendance when planning the more physical activities.
How do I get started?
We offer regular ‘trial sessions’ (see above for dates) where children can experience our offering for themselves.
These are shorter days with no commitment allowing prospective participants to meet new people and see if they would like to attend more regularly.
If we have spaces available and it feels like a good match from both sides you will be offered a place with a start date. If we are fully booked we can put you on the waiting list.
You can get in touch by completingย OUR CONTACT FORM.
Fresh #organic #schoolgrown soup with #beets and #garlic from the polytunnel. The whole school was able to taste the food which the children have grown from seeds and eventually cooked on an open fire (not to mention the salad and fruit they pick and eat every week). An important life skill learned through fun, nurture and a weekly installment of silly songs! #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #forestschool #hertfordshire #Bedfordshire #buckinghamshire #natureinschools
![Fresh #organic #schoolgrown soup with #beets and #garlic from the polytunnel. The whole school was able to taste the food which the children have grown from seeds and eventually cooked on an open fire (not to mention the salad and fruit they pick and eat every week). An important life skill learned through fun, nurture and a weekly installment of silly songs! #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #forestschool #hertfordshire #Bedfordshire #buckinghamshire #natureinschools](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Fresh #organic #schoolgrown soup with #beets and #garlic from the polytunnel. The whole school was able to taste the food which the children have grown from seeds and eventually cooked on an open fire (not to mention the salad and fruit they pick and eat every week). An important life skill learned through fun, nurture and a weekly installment of silly songs! #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #forestschool #hertfordshire #Bedfordshire #buckinghamshire #natureinschools
The sun setting on a beautiful and busy week of outdoor goodness #outdoorlearning #schooltrips #kindsinnature #alternativeprovision
![The sun setting on a beautiful and busy week of outdoor goodness #outdoorlearning #schooltrips #kindsinnature #alternativeprovision](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
The sun setting on a beautiful and busy week of outdoor goodness #outdoorlearning #schooltrips #kindsinnature #alternativeprovision
Amidst the turmoil of life; a night in a sleeping bag by the fire under the stars; being awoken by the grunting and barking of wild deer close by after melting into the dawn chorus an hour before. Then a cool swim in the early morning sunny warmth while admiring the geological beauty of the landscape and contemplating our place within it... helps me to retain perspective on what this project is about and why we do it. Feeling blessed #wildswim #natureconnection #ridgeway #peaceinnature #perspective #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #childreninnature #outdooreducation
![Amidst the turmoil of life; a night in a sleeping bag by the fire under the stars; being awoken by the grunting and barking of wild deer close by after melting into the dawn chorus an hour before. Then a cool swim in the early morning sunny warmth while admiring the geological beauty of the landscape and contemplating our place within it... helps me to retain perspective on what this project is about and why we do it. Feeling blessed #wildswim #natureconnection #ridgeway #peaceinnature #perspective #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #childreninnature #outdooreducation](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Amidst the turmoil of life; a night in a sleeping bag by the fire under the stars; being awoken by the grunting and barking of wild deer close by after melting into the dawn chorus an hour before. Then a cool swim in the early morning sunny warmth while admiring the geological beauty of the landscape and contemplating our place within it... helps me to retain perspective on what this project is about and why we do it. Feeling blessed #wildswim #natureconnection #ridgeway #peaceinnature #perspective #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #childreninnature #outdooreducation
Using trays of water rather than a spirit level to teach the children how we find horizontal level. It was beautiful to watch how much sense this made to them and how creatively they engaged with it using fingers and sticks to compare the depth of the water. They also used different levers and fulcrums intuitively so that they could easily lift the heavy structure at various points. #appliedscience #appliedmathematics #outdoorclassroom #outdoorlearning #alternativeprovision #ofstedregistered #pond #natureconnection #natureinschools
![Using trays of water rather than a spirit level to teach the children how we find horizontal level. It was beautiful to watch how much sense this made to them and how creatively they engaged with it using fingers and sticks to compare the depth of the water. They also used different levers and fulcrums intuitively so that they could easily lift the heavy structure at various points. #appliedscience #appliedmathematics #outdoorclassroom #outdoorlearning #alternativeprovision #ofstedregistered #pond #natureconnection #natureinschools](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Using trays of water rather than a spirit level to teach the children how we find horizontal level. It was beautiful to watch how much sense this made to them and how creatively they engaged with it using fingers and sticks to compare the depth of the water. They also used different levers and fulcrums intuitively so that they could easily lift the heavy structure at various points. #appliedscience #appliedmathematics #outdoorclassroom #outdoorlearning #alternativeprovision #ofstedregistered #pond #natureconnection #natureinschools
Tarp set up really well by the kids this morning at #colneyheathschool - we`re enjoying time around the fire together with singing, talking nature and science and generally getting stuck in. At Out to Learn we bring meaningful outdoor experiences to children both in and out of school supporting their confidence, emotional development and fostering a connection with nature. #outdooreducation #foreststschool #bushcraft #appliedscience #adhd #dyslexia #autism #neurodiversity
![Tarp set up really well by the kids this morning at #colneyheathschool - we're enjoying time around the fire together with singing, talking nature and science and generally getting stuck in. At Out to Learn we bring meaningful outdoor experiences to children both in and out of school supporting their confidence, emotional development and fostering a connection with nature. #outdooreducation #foreststschool #bushcraft #appliedscience #adhd #dyslexia #autism #neurodiversity](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Tarp set up really well by the kids this morning at #colneyheathschool - we`re enjoying time around the fire together with singing, talking nature and science and generally getting stuck in. At Out to Learn we bring meaningful outdoor experiences to children both in and out of school supporting their confidence, emotional development and fostering a connection with nature. #outdooreducation #foreststschool #bushcraft #appliedscience #adhd #dyslexia #autism #neurodiversity
How wonderful to be involved in playing music again after such a long time. Four part harmonies, mandolin and fiddle... pretty much my dream band! First gig after two rehersals and we decided to call ourselves Chiltern Echos ๐ hoping to find a budding sound engineer to join us next. Lovely way to spend the day at #cheshamcarnival
![How wonderful to be involved in playing music again after such a long time. Four part harmonies, mandolin and fiddle... pretty much my dream band! First gig after two rehersals and we decided to call ourselves Chiltern Echos :) hoping to find a budding sound engineer to join us next. Lovely way to spend the day at #cheshamcarnival](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
How wonderful to be involved in playing music again after such a long time. Four part harmonies, mandolin and fiddle... pretty much my dream band! First gig after two rehersals and we decided to call ourselves Chiltern Echos ๐ hoping to find a budding sound engineer to join us next. Lovely way to spend the day at #cheshamcarnival
For a couple of weeks during the summer, something magical happens in the Coombe. People gather to create and share music, connection, and a deep appreciation for nature. @abovebelowfestival is an intimate, safe, and meaningful festival brought about by an impressive team of local people dedicated to realising a dream - and what a superb job they do of it. @outtolearn sessions take place elsewhere on the site during the festival build and breakdown, but we are there in spirit. Huge appreciation for what you`ve created, massive respect ๐
![For a couple of weeks during the summer, something magical happens in the Coombe. People gather to create and share music, connection, and a deep appreciation for nature. @abovebelowfestival is an intimate, safe, and meaningful festival brought about by an impressive team of local people dedicated to realising a dream - and what a superb job they do of it. @outtolearn sessions take place elsewhere on the site during the festival build and breakdown, but we are there in spirit. Huge appreciation for what you've created, massive respect ๐](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
For a couple of weeks during the summer, something magical happens in the Coombe. People gather to create and share music, connection, and a deep appreciation for nature. @abovebelowfestival is an intimate, safe, and meaningful festival brought about by an impressive team of local people dedicated to realising a dream - and what a superb job they do of it. @outtolearn sessions take place elsewhere on the site during the festival build and breakdown, but we are there in spirit. Huge appreciation for what you`ve created, massive respect ๐
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