Meet the Children of the Forest
One of the challenges practitioners face is making the Early Years Foundation Stage framework feel tangible—both for children and for parents. Abstract concepts like "Personal, Social and Emotional Development" don't mean much to a three-year-old or a busy parent at pick-up time.
Seven characters, seven learning areas
We've created the Children of the Forest—seven woodland mascot characters, each representing one of the EYFS areas of learning. They appear throughout the system, on observations, in parent communications, and in development reports.
Meet the characters
Oliver Owl represents Communication and Language. Owls are known for being wise and communicative, making Oliver the perfect guide for language development.
Harmony Hare embodies Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Hares are social creatures, and Harmony helps children understand feelings, relationships, and self-confidence.
Felix Fox is our Physical Development mascot. Foxes are agile and active, and Felix celebrates movement, coordination, and healthy bodies.
Luna Ladybird represents Literacy. Ladybirds are often found in gardens with books and stories, and Luna encourages a love of reading and writing.
Mason Mouse is all about Mathematics. Mice are detail-oriented and curious, and Mason helps children explore numbers, shapes, and patterns.
Willow Woodpecker represents Understanding the World. Woodpeckers explore trees and environments, and Willow encourages curiosity about people, communities, and the natural world.
Bella Badger embodies Expressive Arts and Design. Badgers are creative builders, and Bella celebrates imagination, creativity, and self-expression.
How we use them
When a practitioner records an observation, the relevant mascot appears alongside the EYFS area. When parents receive updates, they see which character's area their child has been exploring. Over time, parents develop an intuitive understanding of the framework without needing to study it.
For children, the characters appear on display boards, in activity areas, and in their learning journals. A child might say "I did a Felix activity today!"—and everyone knows they were working on physical development.
Designed with practitioners
These characters weren't created in isolation. We worked with early years practitioners to ensure they fit naturally into nursery environments and genuinely help with the daily challenge of communicating development to parents.
Request beta access to see the Children of the Forest in action.