Forest School
Welcome to our Forest School!
What is Forest School?
During the year all of our pupils will take part in Forest School sessions. Forest School is the name of an approach to outdoor, child led learning, over a series of intervals. This will support the main curriculum, particularly literacy, science, maths and the arts and will have a strong emphasis on raising all children's self-esteem and independence. Forest school gives children the opportunity to explore new environments, develop and learn in the great outdoors and foster a love of nature. This approach encourages and nurtures resilience, compassion and creativeness.
Our Forest School Ethos
The Forest School ethos is built around a respect for our pupils, encouraging them to use their own curiosity and insight to enhance and lead their own learning. Play is at the heart of this ethos and children are given the opportunity during sessions to be free to play and explore the environment. Forest School steps away from the normal process of rigid, planned activities and instead ventures collaboratively into the realms of the unplanned, unexpected and unlimited. Being outdoors is central to supporting this dynamic approach to learning for example the seasonal changes provides our pupils with an infinite source of learning that heightens all of their senses including, smells, textures, sounds, tastes as well as a range of changing visual stimuli. These outdoor experiences enable our pupils to build their own resilience whilst enhancing their continued and creative engagement with their peers.
Our Forest School aims
Aligning with our school values of Aspire, Belong, Care and Discover: our aims within Forest School are to provide all of our pupils with a safe environment that they can explore, enabling them to lead their own learning from their own interests which in turn will nurture a deep sense of compassion and belonging for their natural surroundings. The very essence of the sessions will enable pupils to challenge themselves and achieve their own goals, encouraging them to aspire to be their best self physically, spiritually, mentally and academically.
We will be doing this by following the six core principles outlined by the UK Forest School Association...
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Long- term principle - This ensures that our pupils have regular contact with the natural world over a sustained period of time, creating a deeper connection towards the natural world. Allowing them to experience the natural world throughout all the seasons.
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Leadership principle - Our Forest School is led by qualified practitioner who can continually reflect on, question and develop, their own practice/learning. Using observation to ensure the sessions respond to the individual needs of pupils whilst providing opportunities and resources for individual learning preferences and ensuring that all policies and procedures are up to date.
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Holistic Learning principle - To link experiences at Forest School to life in our school setting, at home and in the wider community, whilst developing the pupils as a whole. This includes physical, social, cognitive, linguistic, emotional and spiritual aspects and creating links in each areas when appropriate.
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Risk Principle - Provide opportunities for our pupils to build on their own personal interests, motivation and positive attitudes. We follow a risk-benefit process that is tailored to the development stage of the pupil. This means our pupils are encouraged to take risks in a safe context allowing them to move through their learning zones and build resilience at their own pace, be they emotional, physical, cognitive or social risks. Tools and fires will only be used when it is deemed appropriate to the learners and will be dependent on completion of a baseline risk assessment in each session.
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Communication principle - To ensure that Forest School is based on a learner-centred approach, this ensures that the needs and interests of the pupils are met. In order to do this we work with our pupils in an 'equal' learning community, encouraging communication and joint decision making that help to build relationships between the pupils and leaders. Play and choice are encouraged as they are vital to learning and development. The observation of the pupils feeds into the tailoring of planning for future Forest School sessions and is an important element of the Forest School pedagogy, ensuring pupils recognise their own achievements and develop as a whole.
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Nature principle - To monitor and maintain the natural ecological aspect of our site, whilst building a relationship with nature through personal experiences enabling staff, pupils and the wider community to develop long-term, environmentally sustainable, compassionate attitudes and practices. Providing natural resources for inspiration, to enable ideas and to encourage fundamental motivation.
The Forest School Principles and further information can be found at https://forestschoolassociation.org/full-principles-and-criteria-for-good-practice/
When will my child do Forest School?
Years 1-6 will be taking part in weekly Forest School sessions for 1 half term. You will be notified in advance when this will be taking place. If there is any reason why your child cannot take place in these sessions, please contact school to discuss this further.
Weather Conditions
With the exception of very high winds and thunder storms, your child/children will participate in Forest School in all weathers. Please assume the session will be going ahead and ensure that they bring appropriate clothing on the day of their session. The correct clothing is essential and is part of our school uniform. Without it, your child may not be able to join the Forest School activities due to health and safety. Forest School programs operate all year round regardless of season and weather conditions - please bear in mind, your child could get muddy!
During the term we will be adding updates of our forest school journey here and on our School Facebook page.