What is Forest School?
Forest School was developed in Scandinavia and is now growing in popularity in the UK. Forest School is delivered in a natural environment by a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader. Through practical hands-on activities it allows children to follow interests and develop new skills. Children are given opportunities to learn tool use, cook on a campfire, discover nature in their community and take part in team building activities.
What are the benefits of Forest School?
Forest School covers all aspects of children’s learning.
- Social development - problem solving, communicating, sharing and team building
- Physical – fine and gross motor skills, movement
- Speaking and listening skills
- Healthy lifestyle-being outdoors and active
- Understanding the world-becoming aware of the world around us, and taking care of their environment
- Respect – children take ownership of their own area
What kind of activities take place at Forest School?
A lot of children’s learning in Forest School is initiated by themselves as they explore and discover. The Forest School leader is trained to observe the children’s interest and plan activities to enhance their learning. Some of the activities your child may experience are:
Using tools (whittling sticks, sawing wood), lighting and cooking on a campfire, building shelters, observing nature, natural artwork and exploring the environment.
How will we keep your children safe?
All Forest school sessions are led by a Level 3 trained leader with an Outdoor Paediatric First Aid qualification (renewed every 3 years). There will be 1 adult for every six children taking part and all staff and helpers are DBS checked.
All activities are risk assessed prior to taking place and we will provide personal protective equipment such as gloves when necessary. There will be strict rules around the camp fire and an adult is always present whilst the fire is lit. There are also strict rules for any tool use with a 1:1 ratio of adults to children. The site and weather will also be risk assessed on a daily basis. Dynamic risk assessments continually take place throughout each session.
What will my child need?
Practical clothes which keep them warm, dry and comfortable. These clothes will get very muddy and dirty so don’t bring favourites or buy brand new. The children will be encouraged to get as messy as they like! Due to health and safety reasons children without the appropriate clothing will not be able to participate in that session.
- Warm base layers, a long sleeve top and warm practical trousers (no short sleeved t-shirts, skirts, shorts or leggings even in hot weather).
- Jumper or fleece
- Sturdy walking boots, shoes or wellies that keep feet warm and dry.
- Thick socks, hats and gloves in winter.
- Sunhats and sunscreen in hot weather.
- Long hair tied back and no loose scarves or flappy clothes.
- A waterproof coat. Waterproof trousers are desirable but not essential.
