Forest School

Forest school is an outdoor education delivery model in which children visit natural spaces to learn personal, social and technical skills. It has been defined as 'an inspirational process that offers children regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence through hands-on learning in a woodland environment'.

Our forest school lessons put an emphasis on understanding the natural world around us, so that future generations have a connection with the natural world, which in turn equips them to understand it and protect it. 

Forest School was set up to achieve the following aims:

  • To provide an outdoor environment to enable children to maximise their learning potential in all areas of the Curriculum
  • To help each child build self-esteem, confidence, independence and self-control and interpersonal skills.
  • To develop a positive disposition to learning through the completion of small, achievable tasks.
  • To meet the needs of children with all learning styles
  • To develop social and team working skills
  • To enable children to be independent, self-motivated and considerate.
  • To provide an opportunity for individuals to develop, to learn and to enjoy themselves.
  • To provide a safe and non-threatening environment in which children can take and manage risks, make choices and initiate their own learning.
  • To help children understand, appreciate and care for the natural environment.
  • To provide ways of developing practical life skills in an outdoor environment.
  • To develop a secure, happy and welcoming environment.
  • To provide stimulation and varied learning activities appropriate to the child’s needs and stages of development. 

Sessions are led by a Level 3 qualified Forest School Leader and Forest School Assistant. Each session will follow a routine that the children will soon become familiar with, including a group discussion, activity and exploration in the Forest School area.  Children are encouraged to explore all aspects of the natural world. Their own interests and play ideas will be the basis of activities to extend their learning.