INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND INVOLVE

Education

Bore Place helps young people connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors. We believe there is huge value in getting children outside the classroom and exploring and learning in an outdoor environment. We cater for all children and aim to ensure that our activities and residential stays are accessible to all.

School Day Visits

Explore food, farming and nature on a working organic estate

Bring your class to Bore Place for a hands-on learning experience exploring where food comes from and how it can be grown in harmony with the natural world. A visit to Bore Place is a unique opportunity to connect curriculum learning with real-world sustainability, and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Pupils will discover the principles of organic farming, learn about seasonality, and explore vegetable growing in our productive market garden. They'll investigate nature and habitats across our diverse estate and can even take part in real-life citizen science activities. Activities will vary by season, weather, access and the natural resources available. If there is a specific activity or curriculum focus you would really like to look at, please make a request and we will work to incorporate this.

Group sizes and availablity
All programmes are designed for a maximum class size of 30 pupils. Day visits are available most Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year. If you would like to bring more than one class on the same day, we can usually accommodate two classes (up to 60 pupils) on a Friday.

Visit fees
We charge on a group basis for up to 30 children, and there is no charge for accompanying adults. Bore Place is committed to being an affordable educational venue. We offer a discretionary subsidised rate for small-class state schools and classes with a high number of children receiving pupil premium.

SEN classes
Our tutor team has experience working with children and young people with SEN. All programmes are available for SEN classes and most activities can be adapted to meet various needs. Most programmes are suitable, or adaptable, for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. Due to the nature of our site and facilities, the maximum group size for an SEN visit is 20 pupils, though this depends on the needs of the group. Please contact us to discuss the needs of your class.

Programmes available

Marvellous Minibeasts Explore the hidden world of minibeasts in our fields, woodlands and gardens, discovering how these tiny creatures play a big role in the ecosystem. Please note, this programme is not available Dec-March.		Activities Minibeast hunting in logs, leaf litter and/or grassland Meadow walk Games to learn about predators and prey, and camoflage Maybe some pond dipping!

KS1 curriculum links Where food comes from Food chains Carnivores, herbivores and omnivores What animals need to survive Habitats and microhabitats, and how they provide for animals		KS2 curriculum links Food chains plus consumers, producers and decomposers Predator-prey relationships Adaptations to suit environment Life cycles and stages Where food comes from

Habitat Detectives Become a habitat detective for the day! Take on the role of an ecologist or countryside ranger, and explore different environments. Investigate the wildlife that lives there, and take part in a real citizen science survey to support local biodiversity.		Activities Seasonal survey e.g. worm, hedgerow, butterfly Habitat trail to compare types of habitats Footprint survey tunnels and mammal ID Nest building or den building If there's time, an animal signs scavenger hunt

KS1 curriculum links Where food comes from Food chains Carnivores, herbivores and omnivores What animals need to survive Habitats and microhabitats, and how they provide for animals		KS2 curriculum links Food chains Predator-prey relationships Adaptations to suit environment Classification and using a key Where food comes from

Sow and Grow Dig into the world of plants - learn what seeds need to grow, get hands-on in the garden, and sow your own to take home.		Activities Parts of a plant, germination and pollination games Visit the garden to see the range of plants and what parts we can eat Exploring the importance of soil Plant a seed to take home/grow at school

KS1 curriculum links Where food comes from Basic structure of plants What do plants need to grow Adaptations to suit environment		KS2 curriculum links Functions of parts of a plant What plants need to grow plus nutrients and space Lifecycles - pollination, seed formation and dispersal Adaptations to suit environment Where food comes from How our food is grown, reared and processed

Field to Fork Discover where your food comes from by exploring the journey from field to fork -investigate how crops grow, learn about sustainable farming, and harvest fresh ingredients to prepare a simple food.		Activities Foraging or harvesting ingredients Look at natural vs. processed foods Cook a simple food (KS2 only) Taste testing

KS1 curriculum links Where food comes from Healthy eating Nutrition Basic cooking skills		KS2 curriculum links Where food comes from Healthy eating Nutrition Practical cooking Food seasonality How our food is grown, reared and processed

Team Challenge Day (Suitable for KS2; adaptable for KS3 and KS4) Take on a series of outdoor challenges that build teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills - perfect for strengthening group dynamics while having fun in nature.		Activities Orienteering style challenge trail Den building Firelighting Campfire cooking
Programme benefits Physical and mental wellbeing from spending time in nature Learning through first-hand experiences Problem solving when working with others Teambuilding Independence and self-discovery

Risk assessments, policies and procedures
Please click here for our School Day Visits Handbook.

Do you need to visit before your class?
Our site is open every day, including weekends. You're welcome to pop by any time to see where we are and have a wander around. The buildings are not open to the public, but much of the site is open access for you to conduct a general risk assessment. If you would like to arrange a pre-visit with a member of the team, please contact education@boreplace.org.

Need help with transport?
ESRTP Community Transport is a not-for-profit community transport company offering very reasonable prices to groups. Please contact them directly to see if they can help with your visit.

Bore Place Family Adventure

Thanks to funding from BBC Children in Need

APPLY NOW! The Family Adventure is a year-long programme designed for families with children aged 8-13 years - with at least one child with SEN and at least one sibling without additional needs. You’ll spend time on our farm, growing, cooking and eating together and exploring nature and wildlife, and meeting other local families who also understand what it’s like to care for children with and without additional needs.

The adventure includes:

An introduction evening to meet the team and the other families
Five drop-off sessions for the children in your family
Two family sessions
A two-night getaway stay at Bore Place

See the Family Adventure 2026 Application Pack for full info!

How to apply

Please submit a Family Adventure 2026 Application Form by Sunday 30 November 2025. Up to 10 families will be selected to join the programme, and applications will be considered on an individual basis. All applicants will be contacted by Friday 12 December 2025 to confirm whether they have been offered a place.

Please share! Download a poster and pin up on your school or community noticeboard - thank you.

Home Education

Level 1 Award in Art

Explore creativity, build confidence, connect with nature - and gain a nationally recognised qualification.

We’re excited to launch a brand new creative, accredited art programme specifically for home-educated young people aged 11-18. Set in the inspiring landscape of the Bore Place estate, and led by a professional artist, students will gain a nationally recognised Level 1 Award in Art (equivalent to a GCSE grade D–G), accredited by LASER.

Why choose this course?

✔ Gain a recognised qualification outside of a school setting - ideal for families seeking accredited opportunities

✔ Small, supportive groups (max 10 students) ensure individual attention, and a relaxed learning environment

✔ Independent attendance supports confidence building and development of social skills

✔ Professional artist-led tuition across disciplines including painting, drawing, clay, printmaking and mosaics

✔ Inspired by nature, students will use the 500-acre Bore Place estate as both subject and studio

✔ Celebration of creativity with a public exhibition to showcase student artwork at the end of the course

Places are limited to 10 students per group and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If your child is passionate about art or simply enjoys time outdoors and wants to try something new, this could be the perfect course.

How to register for 2025-26

Although term has started, it's not too late to join! The course began in September 2025 and is running term-time on a Thursday between 10 am and 12 pm, broadly in line with Kent term dates. Click here for the course dates. If you'd like to discuss your young person joining this course mid-year, please contact us. For more information or to apply, please click the button below to send us an email.

Enquire now

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Making full use of every aspect of our 500-acre countryside estate - from the organic dairy farm, to the woodlands, gardens and beyond - we offer weekly outdoor learning programmes for young people with SEN. We work with a number of local SEN schools with young people visiting weekly over a 34-week programme in line with the academic year. Our courses are designed to develop essential life-skills and work-related skills, as well as building confidence, resilience and self-esteem through programmes tailored to each individual.

We recognise the importance of young people receiving accredited qualifications as part of their outdoor learning programme at Bore Place. For those students able to access an accredited programme we currently offer two recognised qualifications, LASER Awards and Arts Award. We also offer a non-accredited course, the John Muir Award, as well as other bespoke (non-accredited) programmes focusing on outdoor experiences and practical- and soft-skills development.

We work closely with the each visiting school to ensure that the programme is appropriate for students' needs, adjusting the level of content and pace of delivery as required. Our weekly programmes are accessible for students from pre-entry level to Level 1, with a wide range of needs. Our indoor and outdoor teaching spaces, toilets and changing space are accessible.

The main focus of all of our programmes is to learn in an outdoor setting, and for the natural and farming landscapes to be accessible to all. We have three all-terrain wheelchairs available for visiting students to use, so that everybody can participate in all outdoor activities.

Accredited Programmes

We offer the following accredited courses students attending Bore Place on a regular programme:

John Muir Award

 John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme that encourages people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places. It is inclusive, accessible and non-competitive. The Award’s ethos encourages participants to minimise their impact on the natural environment – from considering access and responsibilities in the outdoors, to making sustainable lifestyle choices. With a focus also on health and wellbeing, the award is something we are really excited to be able to offer at Bore Place.

Laser Qualification

We currently offer two accredited programmes through the Awarding Organisation LASER:

LASER’s Independent Living programme is designed to develop life and learning skills through a variety of units around the subject areas of horticulture, ecology, conservation and independent skills development. 

LASER’s Learning, Employability and Progression (LEAP) qualifications offer a wide variety of personal development and vocational taster units including personal and social development, employability and land-based subjects as part of the programme.

Arts Award

The Arts Award encourages the growth of artists and arts leaders. The programmes we offer at Bore Place support groups from local schools to develop their own creative pathways. Students work on projects aiming to foster independent working and progression into further education and employment. Students are assessed on developing art form knowledge and understanding, creativity, planning and reviewing, and communication. We have experience in delivering all three Arts Awards (Bronze, Silver and Gold) - and can adjust the level of content and pace of delivery as required. Each student produces a portfolio or arts log to record their journey.

Additional Needs Club

Our Additional Needs Club offers weekend and school holiday drop-off sessions for young people with mild to moderate additional needs. The club is open to young people aged 8-17, living in Kent.

Activities are fun, engaging and tailored to individual and group needs. The club encourages young people to develop a love of the natural world and enjoy being outdoors, whilst learning and having fun.

Activities change with the seasons and include things like exploring the estate, hands-on cooking, arts and crafts, harvesting fruit veg from the garden, den building, minibeast hunts, bushcraft activities and gardening.

All activities are led by our team of tutors with vast experience teaching children with a variety of additional needs. The sessions are designed to help develop life skills, confidence and self-esteem in a safe, fun environment.

Young people attend independently and parents/carers are not required to stay.

The club is suitable for young people who:

Have mild to moderate additional needs.
Can attend sessions independently, without 1:1 support.
Can take part in a group session, and whose behaviour will not disrupt the session.
Are able to take care of their own personal needs.
Enjoy being outside!

The club is subsidised thanks to funding from Kent County Council. Each session runs from 09:00-13:00 and can be booked via our What's On page. We meet all young people prior to booking, in order to ensure each attendees' needs can be met, and then share a code to enable booking. To arrange a pre-visit, please use the contact button below.

Residentials

Set within 500-acres of organic farmland, Bore Place has diverse landscapes including fields, meadows, hedgerows, ponds and woodlands to explore.

Activities
Our tutor-led programmes offer fun, safe, curriculum-linked activities with options to tailor your stay to your own learning outcomes. Our activities are focused on outdoor learning, designed to allow pupils to connect with each other and their environment.

Accommodation and catering
We can accommodate up to 25 guests in The Old Stable, a sensitively converted historic building on the estate. There are 8 shared bedrooms for pupils and 3 single rooms, perfect for accompanying adults.

We provide seasonal, organic and locally-produced food and consider the impact of our food choices on the environment. We create healthy, balanced meals and snacks for hungry children and can cater for special dietary requirements.

What you can expect from a visit to Bore Place

Evaluation

Bore Place has a track record of delivering innovative projects in education and wellbeing working with over 2500 pupils annually. All our activities are evaluated through a variety of methods including participant feedback gathered informally and through specific surveys. We also seek feedback from teachers, parents and pupils themselves. This feedback allows us to adapt, improve and strengthen the programmes we offer in line with our vision, values, strategic plan and local demand.

Testimonials

“
Seeing the students embracing the whole outdoor learning ethos, they were engaged, happy and relaxed. They learnt so much! The Outdoor Teacher was amazing with the students and was so patient as they asked so many questions! Thankyou Eliot for sharing so much, the students cannot wait to try nettle tea with a spoon full of honey from Bore Place.
Thamesview School, March 2025

“
Several of the students have meltdowns in school due to them having SEN needs and find school so overwhelming, at Bore Place they were relaxed, one student has a visible tic, this was not shown at Bore Place. One student who is ADHD and has ASD always wears here headphones, she did not wear them at Bore Place. It was fantastic to see our students so relaxed with their outdoor learning.
Thamesview School, March 2025

“
The children were fascinated with the habitat walk we did. The leader was able to locate and show them a huge number of habitats for a wide range of animals.
Chiddingstone School, November 2024

“
[We have particularly enjoyed] Exploring the grounds and the students being able to really get involved with everything, the new outdoor wheelchairs you have are amazing and mean that everyone gets to explore.
Marjorie McClure School, weekly programme 2023-24

“
The children enjoyed eating raw carrots and making the cheesy, herby biscuits. The children loved their visit and so did we, so much so we are going to book for next year.
Lunsford Primary School, June 2025

“
Out of the classroom learning generally opens a new opportunity, way of learning, experiencing it. The passion, knowledge and enthusiasm of [the Bore Place tutor] was inspiring and engaging. We learnt way more above and beyond what we expected, in particular about foraging which the children loved. Students that find it hard to focus in class are engaged by simply being immersed and experiencing the learning environment themselves, out of the classroom. A different way of learning for them.
Chiddingstone Primary School, July 2025

“
I feel the students learnt a lot with regard to their own personal development on this trip, it was fantastic to see them and hear them chatting about it on the minibus on the way home.
Thamesview School, January 2025

“
I think a lot can be said for children coming outside and learning in the fresh air, the children who find the classroom restrictive have enjoyed the opportunity to expand their knowledge. Behaviour improves in the outside as well.
Weald Community Primary School, July 2025

“
Knowing they are coming to Bore Place always makes them joyful- they always ask when is our next trip? They don't think they are learning as the activities and routine of a day at Bore Place is so varied and different to school but the skills and opportunities they get from being on the farm are immeasurable. Getting outside and learning in the environment about the environment is critical. They are immersed in the moment and challenged in so many different ways. It is this kind of resilience and hands on learning and experience that so many children miss out on these days due to the rise in screen time and modern parenting trends. Thank you for great year of visits. Long may it continue. The teachers quite like it too!
Bidborough Primary, 2025

LOTC

Education

School Day Visits