About Us | Our Site | Our Team | Our Ethos | & More...
Suzanne and Gary Langridge set up Strong Roots Childcare in the summer of 2016. It's now an established childcare provider in London Colney, Hertfordshire, running the only Forest School Kindergarten in the area, alongside Little Shoots, Holiday Club, BGFS, and Nature Meditation sessions.
The name "Strong Roots" came from a moment when Suzanne and Gary's six-year-old son came home clutching a hand-drawn picture of a flower, carefully labelled leaf, stem, petals, roots and all. It struck Suzanne that even the tiniest flower needs strong roots beneath the ground to support it through its lifespan, in all weathers — and so the name was born.
Strong Roots offers forest school-inspired activities using natural resources wherever possible — wood, recycled and natural materials over brightly coloured plastic, with no tablets or DVD players in sight. Many children who struggle in a classroom setting excel in the hands-on, investigative play that the outdoors encourages, and the teamwork it builds brings benefits that last well beyond childhood.
Strong Roots' Mission Statement:
'We enrich the lives of children through synergy with nature, evoking wonder, imagination and traditional play'.
Our Site
Strong Roots sits within the grounds of the formerly known All Saints Pastoral Centre in St Albans - a site steeped in history, believed to date back to Roman times. It's this sense of history, alongside the natural beauty around us, that makes it such a special place for children to learn and play.
Tucked away and sheltered within the forest, our site feels like a break from the everyday. At its heart is our huge parachute structure - a fully waterproof canopy giving us plenty of room to gather, whatever the weather. On the days we need extra shelter, our cosy cabin is there too.
Our site lets children explore freely, discover something new every season, and feel truly connected to the natural world around them.
Our Ethos:
At Strong Roots, our ethos is all about going back to basics. We believe every child (and adult) deserves the space to grow at their own pace, engaging with nature and their surroundings in a way that feels natural, not rushed.
It's about finding joy in the smallest things, awe in everything around us, and a sense of inner peace that comes from stepping away from technology and the pressures of everyday life.
Strong Roots Forest School is proud to work in partnership with 'Electric Umbrella' a local charity supporting Learning Disabled adults through Music. Members of 'Electric Umbrella' have been working hard to produce their first Album for a pre-school audience. Their group called 'Little Brollies' visited 'Strong Roots Forest School 'in June 2026 and together with the children who attend the Kindergarten, we produced a fabulous music video for the last song on the album, called 'Adios Octopus'.
To learn about the wonderful work Electric Umbrella does, please click the links below:
https://electricumbrella.org.uk/
https://electricumbrella.org.uk/about-us/our-mission/
Our Partnership with Electric Umbrella
Ofsted & Forest School Association
We're proud to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted and to be a fully accredited Forest School setting (the only one in Hertfordshire!)... recognising both the quality of our care and our commitment to child-led, nature-based learning. The Outstanding grade acknowledges the exceptional delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage aswell as care, Learning etc
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Come and See for Yourself
Pop down, meet the team, and get a feel for how a Strong Roots session runs. We're tucked within the grounds of the formerly known 'All Saints Pastoral Centre'.
Park at the top of the main drive, and our site is on the opposite side of the building to the car park. Follow the signs, or if all else fails, give us a call and we'll point you in the right direction.
Find us at Shenley Lane, London Colney, AL2 1AF