Welcome to The Nature Box Forest School
We had our first Ofsted Inspection in November 2022, receiving Outstanding rating. "The inviting and stimulating forest school environment supports children to become fully engaged in meaningful play throughout the day."
Ofsted 2022
About Us
What We Do
We offer high quality Forest School Sessions in Sheffield for children aged 2 to 12 years. From our Nursery setting to providing local schools with nature education, we aim to spread the passion for Forest Schools. Our sessions are carefully thought out by our talented staff team, following the child's interests and abilities.
Forest Schools
Forest Schools is a unique learning approach originally from Scandinavia. The approach connects children and adults to the natural world, offering time, flexibility and freedom to explore, learn and challenge ones own confidence, skills and abilities.
Nature is our teacher
We live in an age where technology is a part of everything we do. Our sessions give children a taste for the great outdoors, and space where nature becomes the teacher, the interest and partner in learning. Our aim is to spark an interest for nature in our future generation, so that they can continue to care and explore the world as they grow into adult hood.
Our Services
The Nature Box Nursery and Pre-School
The Nature Box Nursery and Pre-School
The Nature Box Nursery and Pre-School
Our Forest School Based Nursery provision at Wood Lane Countryside Centre, is aimed for children aged 2-5 years. We use the Forest School Approach to encourage children's early learning and development, encouraging the wonder and curiosity within nature, and using the natural world as our biggest tool.
Holiday Clubs
The Nature Box Nursery and Pre-School
The Nature Box Nursery and Pre-School
Our Holiday clubs run through the Summer, Easter and October half term. We provide holiday club provision for children aged 4-12 years.
The Nature Box Training Hub
The Nature Box Nursery and Pre-School
The Nature Box Training Hub
Introducing our Forest School Training programmes for Education professionals. We offer level 2 and 3 Forest School Training courses, as well as regular workshops on all topics around Forest Schools.
Meet The Team
Charlotte Middleton - Founder/Director
Charlotte Middleton - Founder/Director
Charlotte Middleton - Founder/Director
Charlotte is the Founder of The Nature Box. Charlotte is a Level 3 Qualified Forest School leader with a degree in Early years education. Charlotte has just completed her Masters Degree in Education, focusing on Forest Schools. Charlotte Created Nature Box 5 years ago, starting with small weekend clubs, progressing to the range of services Nature Box provides today!
Molly Dowling - Deputy Manager
Charlotte Middleton - Founder/Director
Charlotte Middleton - Founder/Director
Molly is our Deputy Manager at The Nature Box. Molly works across all of our teams, supporting the staff teams with anything they need. Molly is our Qualified SENCo and has her Level 3 Forest School Qualification. Molly loves the outdoors and animals, tending to her own horse in her spare time!
Anna King - Setting SENDCo
Charlotte Middleton - Founder/Director
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Anna King is a Level 3 Qualified Forest School Leader with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Anna is our setting SENCo. She has a passion for SEN and is currently studying Play Therapy. Anna loves being outdoors, cooking on the campfire and going on nature walks.
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Tasmine is part of our nursery team. Tasmine has just completed her Forest L3 School Leader Qualification! Tasmine has recently completed her Early Years Teacher Status with PGCE! Tasmine loves Yoga, and is keen to support children's yoga sessions in our nursery too!
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Matthew is our Forest School Leader in our Nursery , home ed and Holiday clubs. Matthew has his Early Years Teacher Status, and Level 3 Forest School Leader Qualification. Matthew loves to go fell running, and walking in the countryside!
Karen Dawson - Nursery Forest School Leader
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Karen is our level 3 early years Forest School Leader in our nursery team. Karen is an Artist and keen to learn more about the Forest School Ethos. Karen loves to get the children involved in creative work with natural materials!
Angharad May - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Angharad May - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Angharad May - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Angharad is our Senior Nursery Leader. Angharad's role involves leading the nursery team, sharing her knowledge and passion to ensure our little explorers have the best time. Angharad has her Early Years Teachers Status with PGCE and is currently working towards her Level 3 Forest School Leader Qualification!
Laura Gregory - Admin Leader
Angharad May - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Angharad May - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Laura is our Part time Administrator who deals with all of our families admin requests! Laura is currently on maternity leave with her beautiful new baby girl.
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner
Angharad May - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner
Joshua is a qualified teacher, working in our Alternative Provision service. Joshua has extensive knowledge and experience working with children with SEND. Joshua is also a DJ in his spare time! He loves music, and sometimes helps children develop this love too through playing the guitar with them.
Zuzka Niedelova - Nursery Senior Lead
Emma Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Anna Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Zuzka is the leader of our nursery team, and has a Level 3 Early Years Educator Qualification. Zuzka enjoys being outdoors, and has a background in working with children of a wide age range, from nursery to youth work. Zuzka is passionate about STEM subjects, and loves to incorporate this into our explorer’s learning, Zuzka has her Level 2 Forest School Leader Qualification.
Anna Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Emma Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Anna Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Anna is our Early years level 3 Forest School Leader within our nursery team. Anna has a degree in nutrition, and has a great passion for cooking and baking healthy meals and snacks. Anna enjoys running, and has just achieved her first 10K race! Anna has recently returned from maternity leave, after giving birth to her first child.
Emma Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Emma Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Lucy Rowland - Alternative Education Practitioner
Emma is our full time Early Years Forest School Leader in our nursery provision. She had a degree in Early Childhood studies, and worked in a range of unique settings, and has experience working with children with SEND needs.
Lucy Rowland - Alternative Education Practitioner
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Lucy Rowland - Alternative Education Practitioner
Lucy has just completed her NQT year as a qualified Teacher, and has recently moved back to her home town of Sheffield from Scotland after her studies. Lucy has a range of experience in a variety of settings, and hopes to bring her knowledge and understanding of the challenges children face in the classroom, to help support our Alternative Education explorers.
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Hebe is the leader of our Alternative Education Services. This includes our Home Education and Alternative provision services. Hebe has extensive knowledge and experience working in youth work, and working with children of school age. Hebe has her Level 2 Forest School Practitioner Qualification.
Frances Hartley - Nursery Forest School Leader
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Fran is our level 3 Early Years Educator in our nursery team. Fran has experience working in a range of early years settings, and is also mum to two beautiful children. Fran is Level 3 Forest School Practitioner Qualified.
Yashpal Kalsi - Bank Staff
Yashpal Kalsi - Bank Staff
Yashpal Kalsi - Bank Staff
Yashpal is our fabulous bank staff member, working across all of our services.
Yash loves to travel, music and spending time outdoors. She has a passion for teaching children about sustainability and looking after our world.
Our Adventures...
