Forest School

What is Forest School?

Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

The concept of Forest Schools was developed from the Scandinavian education system and is centred around children building self-esteem and independence through exploring and experiencing the natural world.

Miss Brindley is our Forest School Lead trained at Level 3 standard and works with groups of Reception, Key Stage 1 and SEMH pupils throughout the year. Our aim is to get our pupils thinking about nature, the environment and how to look after it, whilst working collaboratively with their peers.

Forest School provides opportunities for children to develop their communication and social skills with a holistic approach, developing physically, intellectually and emotionally through connections they make with nature and the forest environment.

At Forest School, children can run, make a noise, get their hands dirty and experience manageable risk, which is essential for healthy child development, through activities such as supervised fire building and cooking.

Forest School is fun! It is educational whilst also allowing children to play, explore and discover.

What activities will take place at Forest School?

· Den/ shelter building · Campfire building and lighting · Cooking on the campfire · Working with Forest school tools · Nature and wildlife discovery and Identification · Water and Mud activities, including planting and growing · Learning about code of conduct and respect for the countryside · Problem solving activities · Teambuilding activities · Child initiated play · Nature Art and Craft work · Campfire storytelling · Collaborative games and activities

Forest School sessions

Forest School takes place outdoors in all weather (except thunderstorms and very high winds) therefore it is crucial your child has appropriate warm, waterproof clothing and suitable footwear. These should be named and can be left in a bag on your child’s peg, but we will endeavour to send them home if your child gets wet or muddy during their session.

Please see the Forest School kit list that your child will need to bring to each session to take part.

What are the benefits of Forest School?                

 Forest School helps children to grow in confidence because of the freedom, time and space they are given in their learning. This allows them to demonstrate independence at each individual child’s rate.

 Activities such as sharing tools and participating in play help teach the children to work together as a group, which strengthens their bonds and social ties.

The sensory experiences provided by Forest School help prompt language development. Improving communication skills has a positive effect on a child’s self-esteem and is a crucial part of their development.

 High levels of interest lead to high levels of attention. Spending time in Forest School is exciting for a child. It tends to fascinate them which develops a strong will to participate and concentrate over long periods of time.

The increase in outdoor activity develops a child’s physical stamina and gross/fine motor skills. Activities that include running around and climbing trees also develop muscle strength, aerobic fitness, balance and coordination.

 Children develop an interest in the great outdoors and respect for the environment. Encouraging children to develop a relationship with the natural world will help in protecting the environment for generations to come.

SEMH

SEMH stands for Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs, a term used to describe difficulties children and young people may have in managing their emotions, behaviour, and relationships. These difficulties can affect children’s ability to learn and can be caused by a variety of factors, including trauma, family dynamics, or other life events.

Today’s children are experiencing increased stress caused by a range of pressures. Mental-health professionals acknowledge that maintaining a relationship with nature can be very helpful in supporting children’s emotional and mental wellbeing.