CHILDREN as young as three and four could be learning at their very own forest school, under plans to get them to experience more of the great outdoors.

It would see inner-city youngsters at Thomas Boughey Nursery School, College Road, Shelton, regularly swap their classrooms for activities in parks, wildlife and woodland areas, and other natural environments.

The open-air learning opportunities could be used to improve their speech and language, grasp of mathematical concepts and independence and social skills.

Children would also get the chance to allow their imaginations and creativity to roam free.

Staff from Thomas Boughey ran a taster project last year to introduce some of the forest curriculum ideas.

But now they have turned to The Sentinel's and Barclays' Class Act competition for help in expanding the project and making it an all-year round experience.

If the 45-pupil school wins a £5,000 prize, it would pay for support from a forest school expert, protective clothing so youngsters could venture outdoors in wet weather, coaches to take children to different venues, and other resources.

Teacher Jan Bakewell said: "Last year, we went to Hanley Park quite a few times and we went to the grounds of Burnwood Primary School, Chell Heath.

"They have to be secure places, but we get the children used to a bit more freedom, so we are not holding their hands tightly all the time.

"If they go to the park, there is a lot of creative development and they can experience different textures, sounds and smells.

"We may start by looking at leaves and how some are different. You can build number activities into that."

The forest school approach began in Sweden in the 1950s and has now spread across Europe.

Its aim is to use the natural environment to aid children's learning and development.

For older children, it can involve making boats, learning survival techniques and using bushcraft tools.

But at Thomas Boughey, the activities would be pitched at a more basic level.

Debbie Khan, from Shelton, found her four-year-old son Asif gained lots from last year's taster scheme.

She said: "He loved it. They went to another school and helped chop wood.

"They discovered bits of materials and made mobiles and crafts.

"It improved his confidence and brought him on a lot.

"He was seeing a speech therapist, but coming to a different environment helped him to talk about new things and his speech has improved.

"If more children could take part in these kind of activities, they would really enjoy it."

Wajid Ellahi, from Shelton, is one child hoping to get involved in the forest school this year.

The three-year-old said: "I like going to the park more than nursery.

"It's good in the park. I like playing and I like the water."

Classmate Alimah Azhar, aged three, of Shelton, said: "I like seeing the ducks in the park. I play in the leaves and pick them up."