Forest School

Forest school, is a outdoor education delivery model in which children visit natural spaces to learn personal, social and technical skills. We are delighted to have our own Forest Area within our school grounds, including a pond. 

      

Forest School uses the outdoors as a means to build independence and self-esteem in children.  Topics are cross-curriculum (broad in subject)  including the natural environment, for example the role of trees in society, the complex ecosystem supported by a wilderness, and recognition of specific plants and animals.  However, the personal skills are considered highly valuable, such as teamwork and problem solving.  The outdoor environment may be used to learn about more abstract concepts such as mathematics and communication.

Benefits of Forest School

• Improved confidence, social skills,communication, motivation and concentration
• Improved physical stamina, fine and gross motor skills
• Positive identity  formation for individuals and communities 
• Environmentally sustainable behaviours and ecological literacy
• Increased knowledge of environment, increased frequency of visiting nature within families
• Healthy and safe risk-taking
• Improved creativity and resilience 
• Improved academic achievement and self-regulation 
• Reduced stress and increased patience, self-discipline, capacity for attention and recovery from mental fatigue
• Improved higher level cognitive skills 

    

Forest School Newsletter Winter

Forest Schools has had a wonderful first term! The year 3 children have had a great time enjoying and exploring the forest area and discovered many new things including some very interesting fungus growing on logs, frozen leaves in the beautiful snow and a newt hiding in the firepit for the winter.

      

             

             

The children have enjoyed their forest school sessions so far and developed lots of new skills. In their first session they learnt how to tie two different knots, (reef and timber hitch). So many of the children picked it up so quickly and were keen to share their new skills with their friends.

    

    

     

      

They had lots of fun creating leaf kebabs and making delicious mud pies.

    

        

In the second session they used the knot tying skills to work in a team and build shelters. They showed some fantastic team work as well as listening to each other’s ideas and expressing their own.

      

      

The children got to use the Loppers to cut some willow into 5 sticks so that they could create Christmas Stars. During the fun, some children also made leaf Mandalas out of leaves and berries.

        

    

The children are always so enthusiastic to take part in the activities and really get stuck in. Many of the children absolutely thrive in the forest environment whether it be running around with sticks or finding a quiet sit spot of their very own to reflect.

We are all looking forward to exploring the natural wonders of winter turning into spring in the forest!

I look forward to sharing all the fun in next terms Newsletter.

Mrs Lowe

Forest School Newsletter

Autumn

What a wonderful first term the children have had at Forest School. They have witnessed the changes in the environment as we changed seasons from autumn into winter. They enjoyed warm sunny afternoons in the forest where the trees and bushes were full of leaves that had started to turn golden yellow. The children used the fallen leaves and berries to create their own journey sticks. They imagined being adventurers and added items to their sticks that represented an important part of their adventure. We then sat around the fire circle and shared our journey stick stories. It was wonderful to see their imaginations enriched by the natural items they could find around them.   

   

 

The children learnt how to tie two different types of knots. The reef and timber hitch knots. They practised them on the trees and went on to use them when building shelters. They showed amazing team work and cooperation skills. Listening to each other, discussing ideas and problem solving.

Thanks to our very kind PTA our Forest School now has a mud kitchen and it has proven to be extremely popular. The children have made soups, cakes, biscuits and muffins, to name just a few. I’m not sure I fancy eating any though 

 Mrs Lowe

HLTA/Forest School Leader