What is the Forest School?
Our forest school experience is a unique opportunity for your children to learn and develop. Because not only do we adhere to the 6 principles of FS, but we also follow the statutory Early Year Framework, which coincides with the underpinning curriculum of Moat Barn Day Nursery next door.
Forest school is a type of education that takes place in the outdoor environment this may be in a forest or natural spaces, from this helps inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world and how everyone fits within.
Forest school began in the 1950s in Scandinavia before moving over to Denmark. From there forest school arrived in the Uk in 1993 and has grown from strength to strength since then. Forest school is a child – centred learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth. It’s a long-term program that supports children’s play, exploration and crates a safe, non-judgemental nurturing environment for learners to try stuff out and take risks. Our approach to risks means that learner constantly expand on their abilities to solve real – world issues, building self-belief and resilience.
It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired hands on experiences in the natural setting / environment. Each forest school has a developmental ethos shared by thousands of practitioners from round the world. This supports children with learning styles and scaffolds skills and ideas. This further develops children’s Knowledge gathering, develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually.
In 2012 the Uk introduced the forest school association, this is a leading governing body for training and has shaped what we know about forest schools ensuring all trainees are aware of the principles and the ethos behind forest schools making sure this is implemented when leading a forest school.
‘’ Forest School is a long-term outdoor educational process that is holistic, and child-led. The natural setting will enable the learners to develop through a hands-on approach to learning, with an element of appropriate risk, problem-solving, and self-discovery. Forest school is distinctive due to the 6 principles which we embed into our ethos, this is incomparable to other outdoor programs.’’ (you can add this quote where you would like.)
‘Cherish the natural world because you’re a part of it and you depend on it ‘Sir David Attonbourough’
6 PRINCIPALS OF FOREST SCHOOLS
These principles of forest school underpin our curriculum and ethos as a setting, we will follow these in each session.
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. “
We run our Forest School sessions for 6 to 8 week blocks over the course of the seasons, in accordance with the weather, planning activities to do whilst we are down at the Forest School site, observing the children to see how they are developing, adapting the sessions to suit the needs and wishes of the children attending. Child centred approach during the sessions.
“Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world. “
We carry out our Forest School sessions within our very own site, where we have big open spaces in which we have designated digging areas, muddy areas, wooded areas for climbing and building dens. Children take on an active role in caring for the Forest School Site.
“Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent, and creative learners. “
When we carry out our Forest School sessions we promote activities that will promote the holistic development of the children who attend the sessions. We provide a safe environment for all those who attend can grow and develop in their own way, flourish in confidence, and grow within the freedom of the Forest School session.
“Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves. “
We provide the activities and tools for the children to take supported risks, within the safety of the Forest School session. We work on a smaller ratio ensuring correct supervision and carry out risk assessments to ensure safety. When we carry out the session, we provide activities and opportunities that children may not ever get the chance to experience within their home life or within the school-based learning.
“Qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice run Forest School. “
We have level 3 forest school leaders who run our sessions, with other members of staff who are level 2 trained. Our staff are always completing training to develop their professional practice and provide the best care they can. We currently have 2 members of staff who are competing for their level 3 to become forest school leaders.
“Forest School uses a range of learner-centered processes to create a community for development and learning. “
We strive to create a safe environment for our children to learn within, where we all come together to learn from each other and grow in confidence, having the space and ability to learn and grow at our own pace, following our own interests. Having regular sessions helps to build the community within our sessions, having the same group of children and staff so that the children have the same regular faces who they learn to trust over time, which helps to build confidence.
Forest School Skills
Here are just a few of the many skills we aim to teach all our learners during the days spent with us at Maot Barn Forest School
Risky Play
We will allow the children to risk assess themselves and explore at their own pace. This allows them to take ownership of their own abilities.
Fire Skills
During our sessions, we will have an open fire where we will cook our own hot drinks and food. This is where we will learn the risks associated with fire and how we can deal with them appropriately.
Cooking
We will allow the children to risk assess themselves and explore at their own pace. This allows them to take ownership of their own abilities.
Local Area
We will be utilising our fantastic location and will go exploring the local footpaths. We will also be carrying out regular litter picking around the village.
Road Safety
When carrying out our daily walks we will be developing the children’s knowledge of road safety. We will learn the skills to pass cars correctly and safely.
Climbing
Throughout the sessions, there will be ample opportunities for the children to climb. This can be anywhere from the trees, balance ropes or even building their own log assault course.
Animals
We will be looking after all the local wildlife that we inhabit the Forest Schools site, from bird feeders to bug hotels. We will also have regular visits from some super-friendly dogs/pets.
First Aid
Throughout our sessions, we will be introducing some basic first-aid skills. We will be teaching the children how they can look after themselves as well as others.