Forest School

“Forest School is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.” (Forest School Association)

Forest School allows children to be a part of a variety of outdoor activities and encourages children to learn about the natural environment. Some of the activities the children will be a part of are:

• Den building.
• Use and practice of a variety of knots.
• Safe use of fire lighting and cooking.
• The identification of plants and animals.
• Exploration of the natural world.
• How to look after the natural world.
• Use of sustainable resources within the Forest School.
• Safe use of tools to support learning.
• Different seasons/what happens in each season.
• Developing key social and emotional skills; e.g spiritual development, health and wellbeing.
• Playing in the outdoors.
• Taking risks in a safe way.
• Building relationships/supporting each other.
• Achieving manageable tasks individually and in a group.

Read more in our Forest School Handbook

Who and When

Forest School is run on a weekly basis for Nursery, Years 4 and 5. Years 4 and Year 5 will be split into half classes to allow for a high ratio of adults to children.

Furthermore, the whole school will have the opportunity to experience outdoor learning sessions through our new enrichment workshops initiative.

Nursery class have their Forest School session on a Wednesday, Year 5 on a Monday afternoon and Year 4 on a Friday morning. Information to Years 4 and 5 is emailed each half term with dates for each Forest School group.

Forest School Kit

Forest School sessions will run whatever the weather (unless extreme weather/wind is forecast). Kits for Nursey will be provided by school.

To ensure our children are comfortable and prepared, children in Years 4 and 5 are asked to bring in the items listed in a named bag below:

• Comfortable trousers.
• Light long sleeved t-shirt.
• Fleecy zip up jacket/ jumper.
• Spare socks.
• Wellies or sturdy closed toe shoes (which you don’t mind getting wet and muddy!)

Recommendations:

• Waterproofs.
• For cold weather: wellies with two pairs of socks; base layer – thermals; neck snood, warm hat and gloves.
• A sun hat for sunny days and suncream applied before school.

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