Forest School

Forest School

Subject leads: Alex Leffler and Phil Glynn

Forest School Overview

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.

Implementation - What will I do?

Activities for Forest Schools are diverse and numerous but it should be reminded that we are trying to create independent learners who are inspired to try out their own ideas, explore their own interests and to attempt new ideas.

Some activities might include:

• Shelter building
• Fire lighting
• Tool use
• Studying wildlife
• Playing team and group games
• Sensory activities
• Tracking games
• Cooking on an open fire
• Using a Kelly Kettle
• Rope and string work
• Art and sculpture work
• Woodland and traditional craft
• Developing stories and drama, and meeting imaginary characters
• Physical movement activities

	Term 1	Term 2	Christmas	Term 3	Term 4	Easter	Term 5	Term 6
Lower School	Fire lighting	Cooking on an open fire		Studying Wildlife	Art and Sculpture		Team games	Tool use
8	Tool use	Fire lighting		Cooking on an open fire	Rope and String work		Shelter building	Sensory Activities
9	Woodland and Traditional Craft	Woodland and Traditional Craft		Cooking on an open fire	Making Gadgets		Studying wildlife

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impact - What will I learn?

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