Forest School
Forest School Vision (Intent, Implementation, Impact):
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 Association)
Children get the chance to explore our school’s natural environment through play in all seasons and in most weathers. They have fun in the fresh air, get mucky and all the while they are learning in a multisensory way.
The aim of Forest School at Abbey Meads is to:
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Provide children with the opportunity for play, exploration and engagement with a natural environment in all seasons
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Allow children to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves
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Encourage children to respect and sustain an area of their natural environment
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Encourage collaboration, communication and team working skills
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Build an individual’s resilience
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Encourage creativity
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Motivate and challenge learners
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Promote problem solving
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Build confidence
Children in Year 4 take part in Forest School activities every two weeks, during school time, on a Friday, throughout the year. These sessions are led by qualified Forest School practitioners who hold NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership and supported by other members of staff.
Play and choice are an integral part of the Forest School learning process, and play is recognised as vital to learning and development at Forest School. Forest School sessions involve opportunities for:
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Free play and exploration
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Games (such as ‘hide and seek’)
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Team tasks and problem solving challenges
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An opportunity for reflection and ‘mindfulness’
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Identifying plants and animals in our grounds
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Simple tool use to make natural crafts
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Varied learning and play styles
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Linking activities with our topics and other areas of the curriculum
Our hope is that by taking part in Forest School sessions, children develop key life skills, which will enable them to succeed at all stages of their education and beyond:
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Resilience
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Confidence and self belief
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Problem solving
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Initiative
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Social skills
There is evidence that the natural environment has a positive effect on physical and emotional wellbeing throughout all stages of life. We hope that children will continue to enjoy the benefits nature has to offer and develop a lifelong love of the natural world.
Please click here for our forest school brochure.
Links:
Nature:
https://naturedetectives.woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/activities/
https://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nature-and-wildlife
