Children will be learning through nature when a forest pre-school launches in Southborough next month.

Harlequin Out of School Clubs is opening the school in the wooded grounds of the Salomons Estate.

The company already uses the area for activities and will launch its new facility, for children aged two-and-a-half to four, on Monday, April 11.

Harlequin’s Maidstone setting at Coxheath is rated Outstanding by OFSTED.

All activities are closely supervised, with groups having a maximum of eight children with two or three adult leaders, at least one of whom will be a qualified forest school practioner.

Alison Payne of Harlequin said: “The aim is to use the positive effects of nature to teach children self-esteem, confidence, team work, communication and social skills.

"Children will be taught all the skills, and more, that they should learn in a conventional pre-school but using natural resources."

Activities will include collecting pine cones and using them to teach counting, whittling sticks and using materials found in the woods to learn about science, numeracy, art and literacy.

Miss Payne added: "Older generations were able to go out on their own and play in fields and woods as they grew up, but the sad reality is that this doesn’t happen as much now

“Research backs the fact that the forest school ethos is beneficial to children and adults alike. It helps to equip children with vital skills that will help them to make confident and appropriate decisions for the rest of their lives.

"Harlequin wants all children to have this fantastic learning and fun opportunity.

“For example, in holiday club, if one of our group want to climb a tree, then yes they can, but only if they can get themselves up it. So that child learns to make the appropriate decision about which tree to tackle for themselves.

“The children are closely supervised and coached if necessary but usually the children make good decisions and this improves self-esteem and teaches them about their limits.”

Andrew Daniells, chief operating officer of Markerstudy Leisure, owner of the Salomons Estate, said the arrival of the Forest Pre-School, fitted perfectly with the educational ethos of the venue.

He said: "Training and development for all ages is a constant theme through all that we do at Salomons, whether it is providing a venue for training for Markerstudy staff and others or the presence of a campus for the University of Greenwich.

“To provide a safe environment for children as young as two to develop as young human beings is vital, and the woodlands on the estate are perfect for that.

“Harlequin Out of School Clubs has an excellent reputation for its work in educating and developing young people locally and we are looking forward to welcoming them and their latest venture.”

For more information on Harlequin Out of School Clubs and the Forest Pre-School click here.