What the parents say...
'Our son has got so much more out of going to Wee Wild Sparks than we expected. He loves to be active and to play with his friends, he is not really keen on sitting quietly and concentrating, always choosing to go outside instead. By going to Wee Wild Sparks he has learned so much through being outside. He has recently developed a keen interest in where things come from, how they work and what they are made of, along with a real interest in the natural environment. He wants to learn about plants and is able to recognise and identify a wide range of them, including edibles and those that he mustn't touch, like foxgloves. Not only this, but he has learned how to be responsible for his own safety, to recognise and identify risk and make his own decisions accordingly. He has learned about fire safety, around real fire, and how to adopt the safe fire respect position. He has been encouraged to develop his relationships with his peers, looking out for them and offering to help and support them when they need it. He has learned to recognise turn taking and how to ask his peers for a turn or explain to them that he is not comfortable with something they did or said.
He has started to learn skills that really can't be taught in a class room but only through taking part and doing, which we think is giving him an amazing start in life!'
He has started to learn skills that really can't be taught in a class room but only through taking part and doing, which we think is giving him an amazing start in life!'
'Wee Wild Sparks has been fantastic for Katie. She loves going to the woods, is super-keen to head out (we have fewer arguments on Wild Sparks mornings), and she's full of chat at the end of the day. She has become really independent, and is much more likely than her elder sister to get fully dressed herself, choosing the right layers to wear for the weather. She enjoys being outdoors now, and will often get home from the woods and head straight out to the garden. In turn, this gets the rest of the family outside more too!
Her co-operation and social skills have improved dramatically, which I attribute totally to the Wee Wild Sparks staff. Katie now tells me, "That's a good idea, but maybe we could do it like this instead?", or, "Okay, we'll do your jobs first and we'll play my game after!" She frequently affirms other children's contributions to role-play and games.
I really appreciate that the children learn to assess risk themselves through their play, whether this involves feeding branches onto a fire or using rope swings. Katie was very proud of herself when she eventually managed to get to the top of the hay bale! Play seems less gender-separated than at her other pre-school (although she's definitely keener on fairy houses than mud monsters). Katie has loved the story-telling, and comes home keen to tell us the stories too.
We chose Wee Wild Sparks because we though Katie needed a contrast to her other, more traditional pre-school setting. I was, and am still, very impressed by the staff's dedication and commitment to the children and the outdoor setting.'
Her co-operation and social skills have improved dramatically, which I attribute totally to the Wee Wild Sparks staff. Katie now tells me, "That's a good idea, but maybe we could do it like this instead?", or, "Okay, we'll do your jobs first and we'll play my game after!" She frequently affirms other children's contributions to role-play and games.
I really appreciate that the children learn to assess risk themselves through their play, whether this involves feeding branches onto a fire or using rope swings. Katie was very proud of herself when she eventually managed to get to the top of the hay bale! Play seems less gender-separated than at her other pre-school (although she's definitely keener on fairy houses than mud monsters). Katie has loved the story-telling, and comes home keen to tell us the stories too.
We chose Wee Wild Sparks because we though Katie needed a contrast to her other, more traditional pre-school setting. I was, and am still, very impressed by the staff's dedication and commitment to the children and the outdoor setting.'
