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, May 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
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Anna King - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
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 her Masters Degree in Education, focusing on Forest Schools. Charlotte created The Nature Box 7 years ago, starting with small weekend clubs, progressing to the range of services The Nature Box provides today!
Anna King - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Anna King - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Anna King is a Level 3 Qualified Forest School Leader with a degree in Early Childhood Education. 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 our Level 3 Forest School Leader in our nursery team, as well as one of our Training Hub instructors. Tasmine has a degree in Early Childhood and has completed her Early Years Teacher Status with PGCE. Tasmine loves Yoga, and is keen to support children's yoga sessions in our nursery too!
Tasmine is currently on maternity leave.
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Matthew is our Level 3 Forest School Leader in our nursery team, as well as an instructor for our Training Hub. Matthew also has a degree in Early Childhood Education, with Early Years Teacher Status. Matthew loves to go fell running, and walking in the countryside!
Karen Dawson - Nursery Forest School Leader
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Karen Dawson - Nursery Forest School Leader
Karen is our Level 3 Early Years Practitioner in our nursery team. Karen is a keen artist and loves to get the children involved in creative work with natural materials!
Laura Gregory - Administration Lead
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Karen Dawson - Nursery Forest School Leader
Laura is our part-time administrator who oversees enrollment, scheduling and family communications.
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner - Stannington Site
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner - Stannington Site
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner - Stannington Site
Joshua is a qualified teacher, working in our Alternative Provision service. Joshua has extensive knowledge and experience working with children with SEND. He loves music, and sometimes helps children develop this love too through playing the guitar with them.
Lydia Temple - Nursery Forest School Leader
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner - Stannington Site
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner - Stannington Site
Lydia has a qualification in Children and Young People Social Services, and has extensive experience in the Montessori method of learning. Lydia is also Alexander Technique trained, and runs her own clinic outside her time at The Nature Box. Lydia has a keen interest in the outdoors, spending lots of her free time on hikes with her husband.
Sheena Waghorn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner - Stannington Site
Sheena Waghorn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Sheena has a degree in Child Development and Playwork, and is also a qualified Early Years Steiner Waldorf Teacher. Sheena has a great passion for working with natural resources, and creating wonderful art with nature. Sheena has experience working in various SEND provisions in addition to Forest School settings.
Anna Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Manager - Stannington Site
Anna Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Anna is our Level 3 Early Years Practitioner in 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 is currently on maternity leave.
Emma Dunn - Nursery Manager
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Manager - Stannington Site
Anna Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Emma is our Level 3 Forest School Leader, with a degree in Early Childhood Studies. Emma has worked in a range of unique settings, and has experience working with children with SEND needs. Emma enjoys to spend her weekends kayaking and hiking!
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Manager - Stannington Site
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Manager - Stannington Site
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Manager - Stannington Site
Hebe is the leader of our Alternative Education 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 and is set to finish her Level 3 qualification this year.
Yashpal Kalsi - Bank Staff
Rebecca White - Alternative Provision Leader - Birley Site
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Manager - Stannington Site
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.
Rebecca White - Alternative Provision Leader - Birley Site
Rebecca White - Alternative Provision Leader - Birley Site
Rebecca White - Alternative Provision Leader - Birley Site
Rebecca is a newly qualified teacher who is studying a Masters Degree in Autism. Rebecca supports our Alternative Provision at our newest site at Birley.
Rebecca loves music, being outdoors and hiking.
Olivia Barrett - Nursery Assistant Manager
Rebecca White - Alternative Provision Leader - Birley Site
Rebecca White - Alternative Provision Leader - Birley Site
Olivia is our Level 3 Forest School Leader in our nursery team, with a degree in Illustration. Olivia is a qualified teacher, specialising in SEND practice. Olivia loves to share her passion for play through facilitating creative experiences for our explorers! Olivia enjoys reading, painting and walks in nature.
Alex Woods - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Ella Whitehouse - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Alex Woods - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Alex is a qualified teacher, supporting our Alternative Provision service in Stannington.
Alex loves sports and the great outdoors, and loves to share these passions with the children.
Connie Dawson - Alternative Provision Leader - Birley Site
Ella Whitehouse - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Alex Woods - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Connie has a foundation degree in Early Years with a BA (Hons) top up in SEND. Connie supports our Alternative Provision at our newest site at Birley.
Connie loves the theatre, cinema, music, and anything Disney!
Ella Whitehouse - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Ella Whitehouse - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Ella Whitehouse - Alternative Provision Forest School Leader - Stannington Site
Ella has a degree in Outdoor Education and supports our Alternative Provision service in Stannington.
Ella loves the outdoors, spending anytime away from Forest School either playing Netball, supporting scouts, or walking with her dog.
Our Adventures...
