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 is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.
The ethos is shared by thousands of trained practitioners across the UK and beyond. Its roots reach back to early years pioneers in outdoor learning and across the sea to Scandinavia.
At Forest School all explorers are viewed as:
- equal, unique and valuable
- competent to explore & discover
- entitled to experience appropriate risk and challenge
- entitled to choose, and to initiate and drive their own learning and development
- entitled to experience regular success
- entitled to develop positive relationships with themselves and other people
- entitled to develop a strong, positive relationship with their natural world
This learner-centred approach interweaves with the ever-changing moods and marvels, potential and challenges of the natural world through the seasons to fill every Forest School session and programme with discovery and difference. Yet each programme does also share a common set of principles, aimed at ensuring that all learners experience the cumulative and lasting benefits that quality Forest School offers.
“The best classroom and the richest cupboards is roofed only by the sky”
Margaret McMillan
“Nature Pedagogy is an understanding of our sense of belonging to land, our sense of working with nature. There is a pedagogical shift when you move outside into nature…it’s learning with nature, not just teaching about it…nature is a powerful teacher”
Claire Warden
What does your child need for Forest School?
We want the children to feel relaxed and happy in the forest, and therefore for each Forest School session we would ask that you ensure your child comes to nursery suitably dressed for the trip. In good weather, they will need to have had suncream applied, light long sleeve trousers/leggings and tops, sturdy shoes and sun-hats. In wet weather they will need warmer long sleeve trousers and tops, a jumper and sturdy shoes. We will provide waterproof coats and trousers.
