Latest Forest School News

The Forest School Ethos

Forest School is a unique educational experience and process that offers children the opportunity to succeed and develop confidence and self- esteem through hands - on learning experiences in a woodland environment.

Children engage in motivating and achievable tasks and activities throughout the year and in almost all weathers. Children will work with tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, grow in confidence, self- esteem and motivation whilst developing an understanding of the natural world.

The Forest School concept originates in Denmark, aimed at pre-school children, where it was found that children who had attended forest school then arrived at school with strong social and communication skills, having the ability to work in groups effectively, generally has high self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities. These foundations helped children raise their academic achievements.

A Forest School encourages children to:

• Develop personal and social skills
• Work through practical problems and challenges
• Use tools to create, build or manage
• Discover how they learn best
• Pursue knowledge that interests them
• Learn how to manage failures
• Build confidence in decision making and evaluating risk
• Develop practical skills
• Understand the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle
• Explore connections between humans, wildlife and the earth
• Regularly experience achievement and success
• Reflect on learning and experiences
• Develop their language and communication skills
• Improve physical motor skills
• Become more motivated
• Improve their concentration skills

Forest School Activities Autumn 2022

Forest School Activities Spring 2023

Year 1 18.04.23

What a lovely afternoon out in our outdoor learning area, the sun was out.

Lots of creative fun, the whole group managed to play together using their imaginative play - so lovely to witness. We have our runner beans growing well and all ready to stake to aid there growth.

We ended the session with the reflective talking stick and everyone agreed they had the best time at Forest School.

During the afternoon we went to forest school as a whole class with lots of helpers - our ex students and parents came to help.

Whilst at our outdoor learning area we all managed to get drenched with the heavy rain we experienced! We still managed to have fun, and hope Hayley and Benjamin will return during the sunnier sessions!

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Year 2 16.05.23

What a busy afternoon out in the lovely sunshine.

We were busy creating "fairy fires" using the fire steels, making mud pies in the mud kitchen.

We even made our own seed bombs and planted them around the site - repotted our tomato plants.

Lots of lovely play and the children ended the session picking flowers for their class teacher Mrs Dickinson.

Foundation 12.05.23

What a busy morning, planting seeds, Mark Making and building dens.

We enjoyed our hot chocolate and S’mores during our session.

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Year 2: 09.05.23

This afternoon year 2 children had great fun working together to build a base for their fairy fires. Once completed the children were able to cook their own marshmallows and add it to their biscuits to make s'mores - this was a great team building success

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We enjoyed rolling in the long grass and meeting up with Jenny the landowner with her dog.

It was really good being outside in the sunshine with no rain!