Roots to Learning Forest School

 What is Forest School?

Forest School is an outdoor scheme of activities delivered by trained practitioners within a natural environment and takes place whatever the weather! Our Forest School will be tailored to meet the needs of the children as they grow in confidence, skills, understanding and independence. The ethos of Forest School allows learners the time and space to develop skills, interests and understanding through practical, hands-on experiences. It also allows practitioners to step back, observe and support the children in order to then encourage and inspire individuals to achieve through careful scaffolding and facilitating.

We are fortunate to have some established trees and also we have our younger trees that were donated to us last year by Mersey Forest. The children will learn more about our local environment through these varied habitats and the animals that live in them. We will ensure that, at every session, the children are secure in their understanding of the boundaries and of our Forest School rules. All areas will be thoroughly risk assessed prior to the sessions.

What happens during the Forest school session?

Once the children are in their Forest School kit, the group walks down to our Forest School area. Each session begins around the Fire Circle, where we talk through the safety rules for working outdoors and about respecting each other. For every session we have a lesson plan which includes a variety of small group activities linked to the terms topic. During Forest School sessions, children are encouraged to work with others to carry out activities such as den/shelter building, role play, exploration, practical and creative skills and tasks. The children are free to move around activities throughout the session or create their own!

Our Future Plans

Our aim with in introducing the Forest School to Forefield Community Infant and Nursery School is to give the children a wide range of learning opportunities in order for them to develop skills, strategies and knowledge to become ‘Life Long Learners’.

Our Forest School is currently in its infancy and our trees are young saplings, however this does not limit us utilising the area and our plan is not only to develop and invest in the site, but to ensure that all children have access to the sites. Our 2019-20 nursery children were the first to experience regular sessions and this will continue throughout their 4 years at Forefield Community Infant and Nursery School.