A Titchfield school is set to open an outdoor forest school for children aged from three to five years old.

West Hill Park School, in St Margaret’s Lane, Titchfield, will open Wild Griffins - and it will focus on outdoor education for young children.

Wild Griffins will launch five days per week in September 2024, with taster sessions running on Fridays throughout the summer term.

Set within 25 acres of grounds, the forest school will have its own designated area, with a yurt being put in place for the most extreme weather conditions.

Initially the forest school will have space for 12 children and will host an open day on Friday, April 26.

From September, Wild Griffins will also welcome two and a half-year-olds one morning during the week.

Headmaster at West Hill Park, Mr Ward, said: “Outdoor Education has long been central to the ethos of West Hill Park, and Wild Griffins will bring this to our youngest children and set excellent foundations for their personal growth and learning.

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“We are so lucky to have an exceptional team working to make Wild Griffins a reality.”

The school states research has shown that humans need a connection to nature in order to stay mentally balanced.

It also added that nature creates an opportunity to escape the stresses of our daily lives and relax in peace and quiet.

At Wild Griffins, children will learn to assess risk, problem solve and be allowed to immerse themselves in a nature environment.

Miss Allen, Forest School Leader, said: “Children in a forest school environment experience nature first-hand, will witness the changing of the seasons and get caught up in the wonder those changes bring about.

“Nature provides every learning opportunity our curriculum requires.

“Our Wild Griffins will be able to harness the power of the outdoors and use it to help them understand science, numeracy, literacy, working as part of a team, problem-solving, risk-taking and so much more.”