Forest School is an ethos. It is a way of facilitating and nurturing children’s learning through the provision of hands-on experiences in an inspirational, outside and natural environment. Over a period of time children are given increasingly challenging but achievable tasks outside that extend their skills and knowledge and develop their independence and confidence. The process of progressive achievement engenders self-belief whilst the freedom to explore ignites the innate desire to learn which is present in us all.
The idea of Forest Schools originated in Scandinavia where outdoor living and learning is totally embedded in society. In Scandinavia there is a strong belief that nature and movement is essential to a child’s overall development and well-being. Most children, through their schools, spend one day per week engaged in learning activities outdoors, appreciating how to care for and respect the environment while also looking after themselves and others.
- The use of woodland, other wild spaces and/or school grounds.
- A flexible child-led approach to learning which accommodates a range of learning styles which can be adapted for different ages and all abilities.
- The freedom to explore using multiple senses (vital for encouraging creative, diverse and imaginative play).
- Learning which links to the national curriculum in innovative ways that encourage children to develop their curiosity and motivation to learn.
What do we do?
We recommend doing the Forest School programme over a 6 week period. If this is not possible we can also offer one-off events to meet the needs of the school and its pupils. Some of the programmes on offer are:-
- Mini beast hunt
- Pond dipping
- Camp craft
- Fire skills
- Fairy houses
We can also design programmes to suit your school needs. Please get in touch to discuss.