RICHMOND MP Rishi Sunak has officially opened a new forest school which is helping to teach children at a farm-based nursery about the great outdoors.
The forest school at High Bank Day Nursery in Stapleton, near Darlington, provides children with hands-on learning experiences in a natural environment surrounded by trees and green space. The children do everything from building dens and shelters, through to studying insects and wildlife.
The children welcomed Mr Sunak by helping him to make his own Forest School badge.
He said: “This is a great example of a nursery broadening the experience of young children in providing a fun and educational environment.
“Together with the mini-farm, High Bank is giving its pupils, many of whom live in towns, a first-rate introduction to the countryside.”
Lesley Thompson, owner of High Bank Day Nursery, said: “We were delighted that Mr Sunak accepted our invitation to officially open the forest school.
“The children are really enjoying the hands-on learning experiences the school gives them and it is clear it has having a very positive impact.”
Mr Sunak was also given a tour of the mini-farm that the children can access every day, including helping to feed the cows and collecting eggs laid by the chickens.
Mrs Thompson added: “Being based on a farm gives us the best of both worlds as the children can learn both inside and outside, with lots of interactive, stimulating activities to help their learning.”