Moorlands Primary School

About Forest School

What is Forest School?

Forest school is an inspirational approach that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning in the natural environment.  It is a place of trust, a place of belonging, a place of wonder and a place of power.  (The Forest School England Network).

Everyone, everywhere, everything has potential.

 

Why do we run forest school at Moorlands Primary and what are the benefits?
 

Forest school is a type of outdoor education that enables children to further develop personal, social, technical and physical skills.  Our primary goals are to:

  • Encourage exploration, curiosity and imagination.
  • Empower children in the natural environment.
  • Encourage spatial awareness and for children to take measured risks.
  • Develop physical, social and emotional skills to promote the health and well-being of everyone.

We believe forest school stimulates children’s intrinsic desire to learn, explore, discover and communicate with adults and one another.

The Forest School England Network has defined Forest School as:
"An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults' regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem, through hands on learning experiences in a woodland environment.'

The ethos and activities practised by a forest school are not just general outdoor activities carried out in an area with a few trees. The idea of Forest School is quite specific and there are some key aspects to its delivery:

Using a wild woodland setting with boundaries and safety routines that give children the freedom to use the setting and learn by themselves and within groups with some input from adults (as unobtrusive as possible)

High adult to child ratios giving the dual benefit of allowing children to undertake activities they would not normally be able to do, such as climbing trees, without putting them at undue risk as well as allowing the adults involved to really understand the different abilities of the children in the group.
Learning is linked to the National Curriculum and Foundation Stage Objective, this is not just about playing in the woods! Children are encouraged to use a wide range of skills that the Forest School activities that can be linked back to many areas of the curriculum or early years' objectives. In addition, this environment can be particularly rewarding for those children who find it difficult to learn in a standard classroom environment.

Freedom to explore and use all their senses helping to encourage creative and imaginative play. Allowing this freedom really helps to let children develop their own learning style and pace.

Regular sessions over a significant period - Forest School is generally something that takes place regularly over a substantial period of time so it can encompass all weathers and seasons with the natural highlight that each of those bring.

 

How do we keep children safe? 

Our forest school leaders are fully qualified forest school practitioners and are also qualified in outdoor first aid.  The site is carefully assessed and the children and adults review the rules and boundaries for keeping everyone safe at the beginning and during each session. 

Part of forest school is teaching children about risks and how to evaluate them.  So the children will be taught about fire, tool and pond safety, tree climbing, and how to identify and respond appropriately to bees and wasps, also plants such as fungi, nettles, etc. 

If you have any questions please contact our forest school team.

What about the weather? 

Forest school will be able to go ahead in almost all weather however, if there are high winds, thunderstorms or a weather warning issued for our area, forest school will be cancelled for that session.

“There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!”

How can you help? 

Talking with your child about the weather on the morning of their forest school session, will help them with their decision of what to wear on that day.  Also chat with your child about their day at forest school and their likes and dislikes, we are always keen to hear what they have to say.

What clothes are good to wear at Forest School? 

The school provides waterproof trousers and jackets to protect children’s uniform if no outdoor clothing has been provided.

During cold weather, we suggest:

a pair of warm trousers or joggers, a long sleeved top, a warm jumper/fleece, warm hat, gloves, wellingtons and extra socks (wellingtons are great at keeping feet dry but not warm).  

During warmer weather, we suggest:

light cool clothing, a top with long sleeves, trousers or joggers, sun hat and wellingtons or trainers. Applying sun cream before leaving for school and bringing it to school with them if necessary.

Tbe school can provide waterproof trousers and jackets to protect the children's uniform if no outdoor clothing has been provided.

Who runs forest school? 

We are fortunate to have 3 qualified Forest School Leaders – Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Roebuck and Miss. Smith who run the sessions on a daily basis.

Where do we go? 

We are very lucky to have our own woodland environment which has a pond, fire pit and an enchanted cottage, amongst other exciting places.

A place of freedom, mental and physical

When do we go? 

A session runs from 9.30am to 12 noon once a week for a term in reception and then again in year one, where we hope they will be able to experience a different season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can wash away the mud but you can’t wash away the experience!