Forest Schools
Our Forest School time is spent immersed in nature amongst all its wildness and splendour. It’s a time of freedom when we have the power to choose; whether it be to climb, build, paint, collect, dig or simply to sit peacefully. Forest School promotes holistic development fostering resilient, kind, creative and confident learners. Our ideas and thoughts are always listened to and valued. We learn to take risks- physically, socially and emotionally by trying new things, challenging ourselves, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and learning to lean on one another. Things are slower in the woods; we do things from scratch which takes a lot longer but we learn SO much along the way. The focus is on the process rather than product. At Forest School we stop and we notice the small things as well as the big, exercising all our senses. We learn how unique and incredible we are, discovering our own brilliance! We become a tribe - each member different but equally wonderful.
These are the 6 principles of FS.
Forest Schools must:
be a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions
take place outside in a woodland or natural environment
promote holistic development of all those involved.
offer the opportunity to take supported risks
be run by a qualified Forest School practitioner
be learner centred, responding to the children’s needs and interests
Here are some photos of Forest School in action...
Forest School at Grange
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