Our Forest School Lead is Mr King.
Forest School takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. Children from Year 1 to Year 6 will have a weekly Forest School session during 3 of the 6 half terms, each year.
Forest School dates back to the open-air culture seen as a way of life in Scandinavia, where Forest School began. It is a child-centred, inspirational learning process, that offers growth through regular sessions.
There are many key benefits for children when taking part in Forest School. Research has shown that Forest School improves wellbeing by reducing stress and boosting self-esteem, whilst encouraging positive social and emotional development.
- Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Natural outdoor environments lower cortisol levels, promote calmness, and help ease worries or sensory overload.
- Social Skills and Inclusion: Collaborative group play strengthens teamwork and communication, allowing all children to participate.
Through Forest School, the children also learn a range of practical skills such as:
- Safe use of hand tools to make objects such as necklaces, shelters and rope swings.
- Fire safety, discovering how to start and put out a fire safely.
- Cooking, using the fire to make food such as popcorn, smores and cinnamon apples.
Where appropriate, children will use the Forest School environment to support their learning in other areas of the curriculum, such as Science and Geography.
