On behalf of everyone at Merchiston, I am delighted to introduce you to The Forest Nursery and Junior School. At The Forest, we take pride in our innovative and ground-breaking approach to education, designed to inspire and empower young learners. Our aim is to nurture confident, curious, and resilient children with a wide range of imaginative abilities.
With an exceptional curriculum that balances academic rigour with creativity, we focus on fostering both cognitive and emotional growth. This well-rounded approach ensures that every child experiences a truly enriching education, preparing them for future success in an ever-changing world.
We look forward to welcoming you and your child into our vibrant community.
Mrs Davina Bowers Head of The Forest Nursery and Junior School
NURTURING GROWTH THROUGH OUTDOOR
EDUCATION AND HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT
At The Forest, we deliver a robust academic curriculum enriched by a dynamic outdoor education programme. Our approach blends high-quality, child-centred academic learning with meaningful outdoor experiences that bring classroom concepts to life. We follow a structured curriculum that ensures strong progress in core areas such as literacy, numeracy, science, and the humanities, while also encouraging creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Outdoor learning is not an add-on—it is woven into the fabric of our teaching. By combining inquiry-based academic learning with real-world exploration, we help children deepen their understanding, apply their knowledge in practical contexts, and develop essential life skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience.
We nurture the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically—recognising that every learner is unique. Our supportive and inclusive environment helps children grow into confident, capable, and compassionate individuals, well-prepared for future academic and personal success.
At The Forest, children don’t just learn – they thrive.
THE FOREST CURRICULUM
At The Forest, our curriculum is designed to provide a rich, well-rounded education that nurtures academic achievement, creativity, and practical skills. We follow a structured and engaging academic programme that ensures strong progress in core subjects, while also offering specialist teaching and a bespoke outdoor curriculum that brings learning to life.
In Mathematics, hands-on tools such as Numicon and real-life resources like money help deepen understanding and develop confidence. Children build fluency and problem-solving abilities across key topics including place value and the four operations, with a focus on applying knowledge to everyday situations. In Literacy, we combine synthetic phonics with high-quality reading schemes to foster strong reading skills and a lifelong love of books. Our writing curriculum includes grammar, handwriting, and creative expression, ensuring children become articulate and imaginative communicators.
Our pupils benefit from weekly specialist lessons in Spanish, Science, Music, Physical Education, and Sports Coaching, all delivered by expert teachers. These sessions enrich our core curriculum and give children the opportunity to explore new disciplines in depth. A strong focus on expressive arts runs throughout the school, with opportunities to take part in choir, musical instrument lessons, drama, and art, encouraging creativity, confidence, and performance skills.
Learning at The Forest extends far beyond the classroom. Our bespoke outdoor curriculum is central to our ethos, offering pupils regular experiences in nature that complement and enhance their academic learning. Through outdoor exploration, children develop resilience, independence, and a deep connection to the natural world.
This broad and balanced approach ensures that every child is inspired, supported, and challenged—developing not only strong academic foundations, but also the curiosity, creativity, and confidence to thrive.
FANTASTIC FRIDAYS
Fridays at The Forest are something truly special—so much so, the children have named them Fantastic Fridays!
We begin the day with a thoughtful and inclusive plenary session, where children reflect on the week’s learning, consolidate their understanding of key concepts, and identify their next steps. This valuable time ensures that every child is heard, supported, and appropriately challenged. It’s also a safe space for children to share thoughts on their learning journey or express any social or emotional needs before the week ends.
Following this, the whole school—from Nursery to our oldest pupils—comes together for a shared break. These mixed-age gatherings foster strong, multi-generational relationships, where children naturally support one another, pass on knowledge, and build a compassionate and respectful community.
The remainder of the day is spent with all teaching staff actively involved in rich, engaging learning experiences. We explore aspects of our bespoke outdoor curriculum, often through cross-curricular projects that integrate academic learning in hands-on, practical ways. Whether they’re applying geography and maths skills in the field or engaging with science and art through nature, children learn in a dynamic, meaningful context.
Fantastic Fridays conclude with a whole-school hike through our extensive grounds. These hikes offer powerful opportunities for children to practise dynamic risk assessment, navigation, conservation, and woodworking with tools, while continuing to develop creativity, teamwork, and resilience.
This broad and balanced approach ensures that every child is inspired, supported, and challenged – developing not only strong academic foundations, but also the curiosity, creativity, and confidence to thrive.
PRACTICALIN OUR OFFERING
Food
Our catering partner, Chartwells nutritionist plans all meals to ensure a healthy and balanced diet for your child. Hot lunches, freshly prepared on campus, are included in the fee, providing nourishing options for each day. In addition, children will be offered wholesome morning and afternoon snacks to keep them energised and focused throughout the day.
Outdoor Clothing
When your child first joins us, we provide their first:
Nursery Children
• Forest branded Thermal waterproof jacket and trousers
• Fleece-lined wellies
• Waterproof backpack
Junior clothing
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Wellies
(additional kit needs to be ordered separately)
Uniform
Uniform is provided by our uniform supplier BE Uniforms.
WRAPAROUND CARE
Wraparound care must be booked termly in advance and is an additional cost – please see our latest Schedule of Fees. Ad hoc days can be requested subject to availability. The typical day is 8.15am – 3pm and provision will be offered before and after, from 7.45am until 6pm. Morning wraparound care
7.45am – 8.15am
(Includes continental breakfast and hot drink)
HEALTHY EATING
Together with our catering partner, Chartwells, we are dedicated to fostering a thriving learning environment, and one essential aspect of that is ensuring our students enjoy nutritious, balanced meals. Our meals, expertly prepared on site and included in the fees, are designed to keep our pupils energised and focused throughout the day.
Under the guidance of the catering team and our nutritionist we focus on health and wellness, offering a morning and afternoon snack along with a wholesome lunch. We also prioritise allergy awareness, ensuring all dietary requirements are accommodated, so that every child feels safe and included.
Our commitment to diversity in food offerings includes exciting theme days that encourage pupils to explore different cuisines while promoting cultural awareness. With engaging workshops on a variety of different nutrition topics, we empower our students to make informed choices about their health. In collaboration with Chartwells, we are cultivating a healthier, happier future for our pupils.
TERM DATES AND HOLIDAYS CONTACT US
The term dates of The Forest mirror those of Merchiston Castle School. There are three terms per year.
Admissions Journey
1 Arrange an individual tour with Davina Bowers, Head Teacher.
2 Register your children by contacting members of the Forest team via theforest@merchiston.co.uk
3 Entry assessments for primary children will take place in January each year, however children joining the school throughout the year will be offered an individual assessment time.
4 A formal offer letter will be sent to you to confirm your place.
