Everything you need to know

Wald, located in Murtal, Cascais, is a bi-lingual (English-Portuguese) forest playgroup dedicated to children aged 1-5. Our ethos revolves around a nature-focused curriculum, ensuring that the majority of the day is spent outdoors, allowing young minds to flourish. With a 1-6 teacher-student ratio, each child receives personalized attention and care, fostering a sense of belonging.

At Wald we embrace mixed-age learning, where older kids act as mentors to their younger peers. Activities are tailored to individual skills and ages, fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. Our flexible nap schedule allows older children quiet time for reflection and reconnection. Wald provides two pick-up times, half-day options with pick-up between 12:00 - 12:30 and full-day option with pick up between 15:30-16:00.

You can also explore our Frequently Asked Questions - of course, if we missed anything, just contact us! Slides

A Day at Wald

This is a sample schedule and will be adjusted according to the time of year and age of your child. We will also be offering families the opportunity to come Monday and/or Friday mornings (09:00-12:00) with an accompanying guardian (depending on availability).

School Calendar 2025/2026

Our Team

  • Margarida

    Co-Owner & Pre-School Educator

    I’m a qualified Kindergarten Teacher with a master’s degree in Early Years and a Basic Life Support course for adults and pediatric care. With a combined experience of seven years, I’ve excelled as a lead teacher in two international schools for classes of 1-3 years old.

    Recently, I co-founded Go Nanny, a company that provides babysitting and tutoring services.

    My passion for early years development led me to embrace the forest school philosophy, emphasizing the enriching outdoor environment for children’s learning. My commitment to providing exceptional childcare stems from a profound understanding of early years education, ensuring a holistic approach to fostering their development.

    I’m very proud and happy to be part of the Wald project, and confident that our team and values will contribute significantly to the growth and learning of our children.

  • Marta

    Co-Owner & Pre-School Educator

    With nine years of experience and a master's degree in early childhood education, I specialize in crafting nurturing and enriching learning environments for young minds. As a partner and owner of Go Nanny, a company offering tutoring and childcare services, I leverage my expertise to connect with families from diverse backgrounds.

    Prioritizing safety, I am trained in First Aid for young children, ensuring a secure environment for every child under my care. My commitment to child well-being extends globally, as I've collaborated with families across the world.

    Passionate about education in the wild, I advocate for full contact with nature, emphasizing exploration and fostering happiness in the learning process. My journey reflects a deep dedication to education that goes beyond borders and embraces the joy of learning in natural surroundings.

  • Virginia

    Co-Owner

    Becoming a mother opened my eyes to the importance of outdoor experiences for children. For starters, I found it much easier being outside than entertaining Matteo with some bricks on our living room floor. When the search for an educational path started I found limited options. And the amazing projects that already exist, were rightly so, already fully booked! From my personal wish to find the right place for Matteo, came Wald. Now we just need to have our bunnies, chickens and plant our veggies! I can’t wait what Wald has in store for us and being able to confidently see my own child explore every corner of the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Drop-off is between 9:00 and 9:30 but understand that sometimes life gets in between! There are two distinct pick-up times, one at lunch (between 12:00 - 12:30) for those who decide to stay half-day and between 15:30-16:00 full-day kids.

  • We have two educators on site - Margarida and Marta. Both are qualified in both preschool and primary school education with a masters degree in early childhood education and a passion for forest education. Both are trained in children first aid.

  • Families are welcome to bring a snack and lunch from home. We currently have no food heating options but will explore this in the future. Fruit and vegetables will always be made available at Wald, some even directly from our harvest! We are currently also exploring catering options for the future.

  • All our teachers have completed a first-aid training and regularly attend refresher courses. In addition, each enrolled child is insured (this is part of the registration process). Should there be any health threats or safety concerns, families will be contacted immediately.

  • In extreme weather conditions, we have the option of going indoors into our Toca (a little indoor space) (only available as of September 2025). We do make an effort to stay outdoors as much as possible and believe that the right outdoor wear makes the true difference!

  • For information on school fees, please contact us at wald.portugal@gmail.com or via the contact form on our website.

  • Yes! Communication is very important to us, and every family will be invited to join a WhatsApp Chat, whereby ongoing communication will be shared.

  • Children will be immersed in both English and Portuguese through a dynamic and natural learning environment. Each session will have two teachers—one English-speaking and one Portuguese-speaking—who are fluent in both languages, ensuring seamless communication and engagement. Every week, we will explore a new topic, often inspired by a carefully selected book, which may be in either English or Portuguese. Throughout the year, we will strive for an equal balance between the two languages. Activities related to the book’s theme will be conducted in both languages, allowing children to develop their bilingual skills organically while enjoying storytelling, play, and hands-on learning experiences.

  • Currently there is no before and after-school program. However, if we see increased requests from families, we are happy to consider this option for the future.

  • Yes! We want to make sure you and your little ones are happy! If you would like to stay with your child, that is no problem, however, it would be only for the half-day option (the morning session).

  • Once you are enrolled in Wald we will send you a detailed list of our suggested clothes. In the summer the key is sun cream and light clothes and as the rainier seasons approach we recommend rain boots and waterproof pants and jackets.

  • For older children who no longer nap, quiet time is a chance to relax and recharge through calm, independent activities. They can enjoy reading, drawing, or engaging in other peaceful pursuits. This time encourages focus, creativity, and a moment of stillness in their busy day.

  • You can download the school calendar here.