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
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
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!
Anna King - Setting SENDCo
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
Charlotte Middleton - Founder/Director
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)
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Tasmine Vandenberg - Nursery Forest School Leader (EYTS) and Training Instructor
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
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Karen Dawson - Nursery Forest School Leader
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!
Laura Gregory - Admin Leader
Matthew Burden - Forest School Leader (EYTS)
Karen Dawson - Nursery Forest School Leader
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
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner
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. 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
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner
Lydia is Early years trained, and has experience in the Montessori method of learning. Lydia is also Alexander Technique trained, and runs her own clinic when not at The Nature Box. Lydia has a keen interest in the outdoors, spending lots of her free time on walks and hikes with her husband.
Paige Reardon - Nursery Forest School Leader
Joshua Coulton - Alternative Education Practitioner
Paige Reardon - Nursery Forest School Leader
Paige is our maternity leave cover in Nursery. Paige has graduated with an Environmental Science degree, and has worked in Forest Schools in London.
Anna Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Emma 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 left us to go on maternity leave with her second child.
Emma Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
Hebe Phillips - Alternative Education Co-ordinator
Emma Dunn - Nursery Forest School Leader
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.
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
Frances Hartley - Nursery Forest School Leader
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 three beautiful children. Fran is Level 3 Forest School Practitioner Qualified. Fran is currently on maternity leave.
Yashpal Kalsi - Bank Staff
Frances Hartley - Nursery Forest School Leader
Olivia Barrett - Nursery Forest School Leader
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.
Olivia Barrett - Nursery Forest School Leader
Frances Hartley - Nursery Forest School Leader
Olivia Barrett - Nursery Forest School Leader
Olivia is our full time nursery practitioner. She is a qualified teacher with a specialism in SEND practice. Olivia is currently undertaking her Level 3 Forest School Qualification. Olivia loves arts and crafts and enjoys sharing this interest with our little explorers.
Our Adventures...
