Play is at the heart of everything we do

Fully outdoor. Child-led. Rooted in the woods.

About us

Welcome to Little Sticks Forest School! We are a fully outdoor Forest School based across two sites. We opened our first site in April 2021 in the grounds of Aspull Rugby Club in Wigan. Our second site opened in May 2024 in the grounds of Greenslate Community Farm in Billinge. Our third site, Little Sticks Forest School at Hoghton, opens in Summer 2027 in the grounds of Hoghton Tower.

We fully embrace the Forest School ethos, which to us means that play is at the heart of our practice. We believe that children should be allowed and encouraged to lead their own learning. Our children are free to play and explore the woodland environment. They are not required to complete set activities, as we believe that children are capable of learning while interacting with the natural environment, our experienced staff, woodland structures and books.

Our day flows naturally. We make time for snacks around our fire circle and for reflection on the day's learning. The children have the opportunity to use real tools, cook over a campfire and help to manage our woodland. The children lead their own learning and are actively encouraged by our extremely experienced staff, who are there to support learning by playing, modelling, talking and questioning.

A day at Little Sticks

Each day is child-led, so no two days are the same. At both sites we have a fire circle, where we gather for lunch, stories and cooking. Children learn to respect the fire and quickly learn how to stay safe around it. Structures around our camps encourage imaginative play and physical development, and we change them regularly to meet the children's needs.

We explore the woodland next to our camps and regularly go on walks to spot wildlife, including birds, rabbits, owls and the occasional deer. At Greenslate we also visit the farmyard animals that live on the farm.

We teach the children to use tools safely, so they can help chop wood for the fire, whittle sticks for cooking on the campfire or snip saplings with secateurs. We celebrate every child's achievements with celebration rings, which they proudly hang on our tree. Our routine includes snack time, lunchtime and story time, and reflection time before lunch and before afternoon snack, when we all share our thoughts on the session.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and are inspected by Ofsted in the same way as all early years settings.

Children digging in the garden with spades and a wheelbarrow

Children watching a pony grazing in the field

Children gathered around the fire pit with sticks

Children splashing through the stream in wellies

A child enjoying a snack of fresh strawberries and melon

Our sites

Little Sticks Aspull

In the grounds of Aspull Rugby Club, handy for Wigan, Bolton and the surrounding areas.

Ofsted Inspection date: 4 August 2023. Overall effectiveness: Outstanding; The quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding.

“Children excel at the forest school setting and get off to the best possible start in life.”

“Parents feel supported by the staff and happy to leave their children in their care.”

“Safeguarding at the setting is highly effective.”

Ofsted inspection report, 4 August 2023. Read the full report (PDF) (view on Ofsted’s website)

Aspull RUFC, Woods Road, Aspull, Wigan WN2 1PJ
07817 140080

Little Sticks Greenslate

Opened in May 2024 in the grounds of Greenslate Community Farm in Billinge, with farmyard friends next door.

Ofsted Inspection report: 1 July 2026. Achievement: Expected standard; Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Expected standard; Children’s welfare and wellbeing: Expected standard; Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard. Safeguarding standards met.