Little Forest

🌙Little Forest is on holiday this week. We are having a lovely week off. We went away for a long weekend with Rosie and Petal, our free roaming house rabbits. It was such an adventure travelling with them. They seemed to love their holiday as much as we did. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back on 10th March for spring 🌱🌷

🏕 The children had great fun building dens in our ancient enclosure this week.

We saw creativity, problem solving, communication, and collaboration skills in abundance.

👋 Open for spring bookings!

Come and join the hornbeam tribe at Forest Circles! An inclusive community for young people ages 5 - 16 who are home educated or educated 'otherwise'.

Every Tuesday, 10 - 3, at The Haven, near Horsham.

We offer year-round immersion in nature, nature connection, friendship, and community.

Our culture

We are an eco-democratic learning community, which means we make decisions together in the best interests of all of nature's children. We are self-directed, the children choose what and how they learn, and there are no compulsory lessons. We practice consent culture, which means we respect the freedom of others to make informed choices, and we do not impose things on others without their consent.

Our offerings include:

🤸Unlimited play
🏹Woodland crafts
🛖Traditional skills
🪓Tool work
🪵Coppicing
🔥Fire craft
🏕Cooking on the fire
🥣Warm snacks
🎨Arts and crafts
🔎Natural sciences
🦋Ecology and biodiversity
🌿Plant lore
👄Story telling
🎭Woodland theatre
🎶Woodland music station
😴Hammocks
🟠Circle time
And much more...

The hornbeam circles is now an Ofsted approved site, so eligible parents can claim 20% funding towards the fees through tax-free child care. On their site approval visit, Ofsted were very complementary of the site and said it is a wonderful place for children to be.

Our facilitators are Jen, who is a home ed Mum, experienced educator and Founder of Little Forest, Laura, also a home ed Mum and Forest School Leader and Clive, who is a Woodsman and Chairman of the Sussex and Surrey Coppicing Group. All facilitators hold DBS and Jen and Laura also hold paediatric first aid.

For the stability and consistency of our community, we ask for a commitment to seasonal fees, paid up front, with one season notice to leave. Children can attend for a trial period so that they can make an informed decision before they commit.

Email [email protected] for spring bookings 🌿

🌖⭐️🪐Little Forest goes late night star gazing!

First, we figured out what would be visible in the night sky tonight with the planisphere. This is what we saw.

Orion's Nebula (the blue cloud of gas and dust) is a nebula where stars are born. These particles of light (photons) have taken 1,500 years to reach our eyes, so in a way, we are seeing 1,500 years into the past.

Jupiter and the 4 Galilean moons; Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, and Io. Galileo observed these moons orbiting Jupiter and realised that the Earth is not the centre of the universe because other objects orbit other things.

The moon looking splendid with craters illuminated in raking light.

Lots of WOW moments 🌌🌠😮

We are doing our bit to share this message far and wide.

"Friends URGENT CALL TO ACTION – please don’t scroll past

The Call for evidence (i.e. our main chance to raise objections) for the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill at Westminster has gone out –
essential action needed by 21st January for 1st committee hearing for best chance of benefit,
final deadline for action 11th of February.

The government is trying to push through at an incredible pace their Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill at Westminster, which is the biggest attack for many decades, or even in memory, on not just home education but on the role of parents in relation to their children.

If you want to know where to start reading and find out more– this is an excellent article from a non-home educator’s perspective.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/16/home-schooling-helps-us-resist-indoctrination-education/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH3dIlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHedaLUtoFo86ch5FZsNf8jGxRvg1Mckmh6isNZ5hPZV02aadgfeqz8KBeQ_aem_Y8nejaq0V-y2jXcI8oEhXA


WHAT CAN WE DO???

Please please do share all this info in all your local groups – can copy and paste the body of this post if wanted – and with all your family, friends and contacts.

Simple.

Two simple emails with pretty similar content -
but wherever possible from every member of the family

(1) ✅️ Most importantly – write to the committee undertaking the “call for evidence”. This is pretty much our best chance to get our voices heard and at the very least to get crucial amendments made. Many of the committee have expressed pretty anti-home ed views to date (it’s a very skewed selection of MPs). It really will take a deluge of submissions to make them realise this shouldn’t be a done and dusted deal.
Cos as it’s a call for evidence your submission has to be personal – BUT other than your name you should not put things that identify you, no need to give where you live, children’s names etc, and you can ask for your submission to be treated as anonymous.
Crucially – send something from each member of your household including children – you have the right (and some would say duty) to act a advocates and voices for each of your children to protect them from the implications of this Bill and speak out their voices for them. If need be, split your points between each.
But volume of responses is crucial – for eg in the most recent consultation in Wales on home ed databases, whilst the vast majority of responses (several hundred) were from home educators and against their proposals, the Welsh gov have taken great delight in highlighting how this was only 4.5% of the known population of home educators and have chosen to presume that that meant that the rest must be in favour of their proposals, using this presumption to justify ignoring subsequent appeals to common sense.
Silence is taken to mean “do whatever you want” unfortunately


➡️The email address to end this is: [email protected]


➡️This google doc is a very helpful guide to writing your submission.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MvxJGRc7tf11S8L9YyAHMqmdonGcSXgeUhehOhnrxvo/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawH3exxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZappslJrtJMyECeQvuFLMAAoWFgbwCbJybJuFGIzfOAs9A3Ta8YJwUEVA_aem_mtQhq9QQvGLvCEGUFHAFwA&tab=t.s2sjuyllajrf

➡️this very reliable source also has a video to explain how and what to write too:
https://northshropshe.wordpress.com/2025/01/13/cws-bill-submitting-evidence-to-the-bill-committee/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH3XjBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRow-GLaLjyJbSp-bO9aWY3wRGrJErEIcuF16-3SvHdt5X2NV5jDOOPh5g_aem_gVuFLkTna5rP19m_FYZ5GQ

➡️and an excellent example of a submission, by the charity Education Otherwise, is here: (don’t copy or expect yours to be as long or detailed, but it’s particularly useful to just say how some of the issues and point raised would impact your family (again with no identifiable details).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/EducationOtherwise/posts/3929394267311986/

➡️A briefing document with points of concern can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oqloMT3Uagvxzq0YHmCzVrYba_6Ot5Cs/view?fbclid=IwY2xjawH3g5hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSwbzkyw5nIZ6SL_vrtV2zphEXZ58hxI3MtbjLZpg7EeGhB-iddA0DnVzg_aem_BrqAFu9NyooYLaE146naZg


(2) ✅️Write to or email your MP – also try accessing them via social media wherever can, to get your voice heard. Share the points you have made to the committee – or use one of the templates eg from Educational Freedom (see sources below). Ask them to make representation for you.
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, ASK TO MEET WITH THEM. They may well not take up that invitation but asking shows are serious and if they do then find some others to go along with you.



Do engage with them on social media as much a possible too – remember to keep it polite and respectful, we don’t want to reinforce already negative stereotypes of home educators. Get your young people to do this too – that is especially effective


What to write: sources of Info.

See the previous sources sited, and also:

the best place for finding all sources of info and to keep abreast of events is
https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeeducationactiongroup
Please do join that group and follow- we won’t be able to keep up with all the info here.

Please do read and follow: https://he-byte.uk/

Also:

https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2025/01/14/evidence-childrens-wellbeing-bill-committee/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH3gPxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXi4_WJzPaohZrKLBsbKhRJZxSNbEeU5eIZGSLiIuRnyCnPImPln1OL61g_aem_VrbDPX7c8bT3NXaRD_67Wg

and yes – education is a devolved issue – but can guarantee that if the measures in this Bill come into law in one nation, they will very, very swiftly be brought into force in the others – plus your MPs sit in Westminster and are meant to represent you and your concerns there.

I know we are all busy – but we can’t let that stop us advocating for and protecting our children – and our children’s children.
Remember, silence is taken to mean go ahead and do whatever you want."

Home-schooling helps us resist indoctrination It is also the last refuge from failing state schools for those parents unable to afford private education

👣 What I absolutely love about Home Ed is that each beautiful, unique individual can find their own path to nurture their wellbeing and happiness. We are all different 🎨. By tuning into our deep intuitive knowings, listening to our hearts longings, and making our own meaning from the world, we will each find our path to wellness in all the ways 💛

With the year ahead of us, some of us took the opportunity to think about these questions this week. How do I want to nurture my head brain, my knowledge and understanding? How do I want to nurture and grow my hearts passions? What are my gut instincts telling me? What do I want to make with my hands, and what practical actions do I want to take? Where do I want to journey to with my feet? We journalled using these prompts.

The inspiration for this came from a memory that came to me during the winter solstice. As a child, I was drawn to philosophy, art, and movement. These were the 3 essences of my way of being in the world. I felt drawn back to the intuitive wisdom of my younger self, and I decided to consciously reconnect with these ways of being. I noticed that philosophy nurtures my brain, that art is an expression of my heart and movement is instinctive from my gut. Over the past year, I have been doing some work with the wonderdul and inspirational Emily Doe (.dandelionstories), certified mBIT Coach. Emily has taught me many things, one of which is about how to access the wisdom of our multiple brains, head, heart and gut. I'm excited about exploring these ideas with the Little Forest tribe as part of their self-directed learning journeys.

Email Jen if you're interested in Little Forest. I'd love to hear from you.

Little Forest is 2 years old! 🎉🎉✨️🎈

We've been open 2 years this month. Celebrating with those children who have been with us since the beginning and new friends joining our community.

We are so pleased to have got this far and at the same time, feeling excited about what this year will bring.

Just like the wild, we are always evolving to best meet our communities' needs, and that's exciting.

Come join our growing home ed community 🙌🏼

Spaces available on Tuesdays - for those looking for a self directed learning community and home ed Forest School at The Haven, near Horsham.

The hornbeam circle is a special place for connection and community.

Email [email protected] to book some trial days.

🌿 Open for Bookings for January 2025 🌿

Exciting news for home educated children seeking friendship, community, nature connection, and opportunities for self exploration. Little Forest, a self-directed learning community and forest school in Horsham, West Sussex, is now open for bookings for January 2025 🎉✨️

👋🏻Who We Are:

The Little Forest tribe is a nature loving community who play, learn and work together. The children are ages of 5 - 16 and they are home educated or educated 'otherwise' than at school. Our facilitator team are: Jen Nuin Smith, Founder and Facilitator of Little Forest; Laura Thornton, Outdoor Adventure and Forest School Leader and: Clive Cobie, Woodsman, Little Forest Facilitator and Chairman of the Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group.

🌟 Why Choose Little Forest?

Eco-Democratic Practice: Learning to live in reciprocity with our big Earth family.

Self-Directed Learning: Children follow their interests at their own pace, supported by a culture of consent.

Immersive Environment: Learning happens in our cozy home, garden studio, on our allotment, out in the community and in a private ancient woodland.

Regenerative Learning: We honor the natural cycles of growth and rest, guided by the rhythms of nature.

🌓 Our Weekly Rhythm:

Mondays: Adventure-based learning in the community.

Tuesdays: Learning inspired by nature in a beautiful ancient woodland.

Thursdays: Personal growth, play, and creative projects in our family home.

📩 Join Our Tribe:

If this sounds like the kind of environment where your child will flourish, we’d love to welcome them to Little Forest! Email [email protected] to book some trial days.

Friendship - community - nature connection - self exploration 🌍💚

🌿 Open for Bookings for January 2025 🌿

Exciting news for home educated children seeking friendship, community, nature connection, and opportunities for self exploration. Little Forest, a self-directed learning community and forest school in Horsham, West Sussex, is now open for bookings for January 2025 🎉✨️

👋🏻Who We Are:

The Little Forest tribe is a nature loving community who play, learn and work together. The children are ages of 5 - 16 and they are home educated or educated 'otherwise' than at school. Our facilitator team are: Jen Nuin Smith, Founder and Facilitator of Little Forest; Laura Thornton, Outdoor Adventure and Forest School Leader and: Clive Cobie, Woodsman, Little Forest Facilitator and Chairman of the Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group.

🌟 Why Choose Little Forest?

Eco-Democratic Practice: Learning to live in reciprocity with our big Earth family.

Self-Directed Learning: Children follow their interests at their own pace, supported by a culture of consent.

Immersive Environment: Learning happens in our cozy home, garden studio, on our allotment, out in the community and in a private ancient woodland.

Regenerative Learning: We honor the natural cycles of growth and rest, guided by the rhythms of nature.

🌓 Our Weekly Rhythm:

Mondays: Adventure-based learning in the community.

Tuesdays: Learning inspired by nature in a beautiful ancient woodland.

Thursdays: Personal growth, play, and creative projects in our family home.

📩 Join Our Tribe:

If this sounds like the kind of environment where your child will flourish, we’d love to welcome them to Little Forest! Email [email protected] to book some trial days.

Friendship - community - nature connection - self exploration 🌍💚

There is nothing wrong with wonky fruit and veg. Jonny McGovern, a member of Little Forest learning community, has started this petition to reduce food waste. Please sign it and share it widely.

https://chng.it/zn2wH6p2P2

Yesterday, the children planned our winter season of Adventure Days using consent in the context of community. We have worked out a really good process that works for any size of group. It took us 1 hour to plan all our adventures up until midwinter, and it was peaceful.

We also had time for Minecraft, Scratch projects, favourite tree climbing, measuring how fast everyone can run and a trip to the allotment. One child made a bat box to hang high up in one of the old oak trees on the allotment while the other children played. We learnt how to identify bats and how snails make their shells. Did you know that snails have an organ called a mantle that makes their shell. They are born with a very thin shell, and then they run an electric current through the mantle, which pushes calcium irons into their shell to harden it. Snails are electric!

This winter season, we will be going to Halnaker Windmill and Tree Tunnel, Standen House and Garden winter trail, Nymans Gardens for The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe theme, Petworth House at Christmas and maybe the London Transport Museum.

If your child wants to join Little Forest for adventures, nature connection and self directed learning in the context of community, then do get in touch with Jen to find out more. Links in comments.

This Celtic New Year

I be like the trees.

Time to let go of my leaves,
And make compost,
To feed the seeds.

Which leaves of your life are you letting go of?

How are you preparing for new growth?

Little Forest is a self-directed learning community for children who are home educated or educated 'otherwise'. We have recently let go of our upper age limit, and we are ready to grow our learning community for children of any school age.

The children at Little Forest say that age doesn't matter. What does matter is that the children who join want to explore their curiosity and share decision-making in a nature loving community.

We are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We provide wrap around care for parents who work. Help with fees is available for families on a low income or who qualify for childcare funding.

For more information, see https://www.littleforest.education/

This season, we have been having fun making our own foraged paints from the forest and further afield. So far, we have made blue, green, red, pink, brown, black, white and grey pigments. Next season, we will be testing them and building up the variety of colours in our pallete. We are still looking for a source of foraged yellow. We are waiting for the dandelions to come in abundance in the spring. There are a few dandelions around now, but we want to leave those for the tiny bees and other pollinators that need them as the seasons change.

This is one of many projects that we've been working on together. Others include woodland crafts, shelter building, creating the plan for our next Little Forest production in our woodland theatre, potion making, woodland games, oral storytelling, soil science experiments, fungi studies, tree planting and more. As well as finding time to play free and just be.

Our Little Forest tribe are currently welcoming new members. We are for home ed children from the year they turn 6 upwards. We have removed our upper age limit and we currently have children from ages 6 to 13. If you have older children and are interested in what we have to offer, please do reach out and get in touch. Jen's email address is in the comments.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) seen in the wake of the setting sun.

Seen with naked eyes from Horsham Hill this evening. Point and shoot mobile camera, no tripod, no magnification.

It was another big one! ✨️

Home Ed Friends 😀

You are invited to our first free Home Ed Community Tree Planting Day on Friday, 18th October, at 12 noon, at The Haven near Horsham. 🌱🌿🌳

This project is being led by one of the young people in our learning community. His vision is to transplant tree saplings from the forest to plant new little forests all over Horsham district and beyond. He wants to plot the new little forests on a Google map so that in years to come, the tree saplings from the new forests can be transplanted on again and so it is that we will form a regenerative relationship with trees. What an incredible vision!

"I have always wanted to plant trees but felt that there was no way of doing it myself because as a child it is quite difficult and I didn't have any way of doing it. So I spoke to Jen at Little Forest about the project and hoped that we could have a chance to do it together." Young person, age 10.

We are inviting home educated young people and their families to come and plant trees with us and help make this beautiful vision a reality.

Get all the info and sign up here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/littleforest/1410775

Please like and share this post to help spread the word 👍🏼❤️↪️