What is Forest School?
Forest School reaps all the benefits that come through direct interaction with our natural surroundings and being outdoors in all weathers. During these sessions there is a strong emphasis on the importance of free play and independent exploration.
Forest School activities include:
- Den building and tree climbing
- Building a campfire, cooking and telling stories
- Group games such as hide and seek, and scavenger hunts
- Bark rubbings, leaf mosaics and wood art
- Learning to identify trees and plants, sowing seeds and nurturing their growth
- Bug hunts
- Using tools to make simple crafts using natural materials
Such activities naturally develop language, teamwork, reasoning skills and perseverance. The Forest School is a safe space where children can foster their confidence to assess and take manageable risks, promote creative thinking, and understand their role in looking after the environment.
This approach derives from Scandinavian countries’ long-held embrace of the outdoors, and also draws upon the learning theories of Jean Piaget, Reggio Emilia and Maria Montessori, to name a few.
Mrs Catherine Brand
Forest School Lead
