Forest Schools
Forest School is an approach to learning that takes children into the great outdoors whatever the weather to explore the natural environment.
It is an inspirational learning process that is centred around the child. It offers opportunities for holistic growth through sessions, supporting play, exploration and risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired hands on experiences in a natural setting.
The process supports and enables more than knowledge gathering it helps the children to develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and intellectually. This is particularly beneficial to our children’s well-being, and given the last few months, this is of paramount importance for all our children to reach their full potential.
As part of the school’s long-term plan we are working towards gaining a Forest School accreditation. This involves Mr Bibb and Mrs Horsfall our Inclusion Team, completing their NOCN Level 3 Forest School Practitioner Qualification.
Forest Schools enables the children to experience a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, storytelling, hot chocolate drinks and teamwork/co-operation skills, whilst developing an interest in the outdoors and respect for the environment. Encouraging the children to work in teams or, if they desire, on their own, each session will involve a goal. It may be to build a weatherproof shelter using natural materials, to process firewood and build a fire, create art on the forest floor, imagine a story and go on a quest, find, and identify woodland materials.
These skills developed through Forest School sessions will help support children in using and applying skills and knowledge to the classroom.
We have used Forest School activities for small nurture groups and class groups to develop self-esteem, growth mindset, resilience, team work, problem solving and nurturing a love of the natural world.
This is what some of our children think about Forest Schools
Our children enjoying a range of activities in a Forest School session
Our Year 2 children enjoying Forest Schools
