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 Group 2

30th January 2024

What a cold but fun afternoon back in our Forest School site after the floods!

We had Dale on the fire - cooking hot chocolate, popcorn and roast marshmallows. We had lots of fun in the disco area where the children acted out a wedding and lots of other talents being shared!

Lady, Harry and Freddie fixed the picket fence coming into Forest School using the hammers. The children enjoyed creating the fairy fires during their session.

It was lovely to hear from everyone using the "talking stick" how much fun they had with their friends.