What is Forest School?
Forest School is an inspirational process, that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.
“Kids learn more in the great outdoors!”
— Amanda Newham, FOUNDER/ Primary school Teacher
At Forest School all participants are viewed as:
equal, unique and valuable
competent to explore & discover
entitled to experience appropriate risk and challenge
entitled to choose, and to initiate and drive their own learning and development
entitled to experience regular success
entitled to develop positive relationships with themselves and other people
entitled to develop a strong, positive relationship with their natural world
This learner-centred approach interweaves with the ever-changing moods and marvels, potential and challenges of the natural world through the seasons to fill every Forest School session.
Principles of Forest School
These principles were first articulated by the Forest School Community in 2002.
FS is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
FS takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
FS uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
FS aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
FS offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
FS is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
We have risk assessments for every wood we use.
This ethos creates learning communities where deep-level learning and progression are the norm.