Forest school
As part of our PE curriculum the children take part in Forest Schools each year. During these sessions we aim to develop the children’s love and curiosity of the outdoors as well as building their friendships and resilience. The children will take part in a range of activities during these sessions and each year they will build on their skills and knowledge.
Our forest school curriculum is divided into 4 key areas and each year the children will cover all 4 areas:
- Shelter building
- Knots
- Geographical skills and navigation
- Play and exploration.
The forest school sessions at our school aim to equip the children with the following skills:
- Resilience
- Love of nature
- Curiosity
- Confidence
- Perseverance
There are 6 main principles of forest schools and through our planning and teaching our forest school programme aims to capture each of these principles:
- Principle 1: Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School.
- Principle 2: Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
- Principle 3: Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent, and creative learners
- Principle 4: Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
- Principle 5. Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
- Principle 6. Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning.
