Wild Things Forest School
Forest School is a child-led educational experience which takes place outdoors, usually in the woodland. It gives children the opportunity to explore, play and discover in their natural environment.
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Forest School promotes, observes and supports physical, creative, social and emotional development. It creates and provides opportunities for learning through play and activities such as building shelters, exploring and discovering the natural environment, making things using natural materials, using tools, playing games and experiencing basic outdoor cooking.
Each session is built from the previous, and by continuing through the weeks the child can build a deep individual connection to their natural space.
It holds a richness throughout the year, embracing all the seasons, allowing the children to appreciate and delve deeper into their immediate world around them.
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The six Principles, and how they will be used in our setting:
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1. Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session. We have a block of no less than 6 weekly sessions available for a duration of 2 hours. The children will be introduced to the setting and given the opportunity to explore and play. The practitioners will observe and plan throughout the 6 weeks, following the interests of the children.
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2. Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world. We have a large private woodland which has been carefully developed and maintained to host an interesting and stimulating experience for the learners. We have a variety of trees in our woodland area, perfect for building dens, climbing, looking at the tree changes through the seasons, and exploring the biodiversity. We have an open area allowing the children lots of space to run around as well as a sheltered area to use when needed..
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3. Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning. The pedagogy of Forest School is a learner - centred approach, which we follow to react to the interests and needs of the children, helping to encourage their learning and development.
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4. Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. We look at the child as a whole, not just concentrating on one part of development. Our Forest School encompasses a whole range of activities and opportunities to aid development in all areas. Children are given opportunities to develop emotionally through mindfulness exercises, being given the freedom to make choices and be independent. There are so many physical benefits a child can get from being in the woods and the activities that are on offer. They are also given the chance to be curious and to develop their understanding of the world that is immediately around them.
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5. Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves. Our Forest school gives the children a chance to have a go at using tools, making fires and cooking. This can be hugely beneficial to building confidence and resilience. Thorough risk assessments and risk benefit assessments are undertaken for these activities to ensure the safety of the learners. The activities are planned and adjusted taking consideration of the learners developmental stage.
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6. Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice. There is always a qualified Forest School Leader taking the groups, who is also trained and up to date in first aid training. All members of staff have been DBS checked, and follow the relevant policies and procedures. Our team has a clear understanding of the ethos of Forest School, and are passionate about stimulating and encouraging our learners.