Forest School
Our school ethos, curriculum and everything we do, including forest school is built around our vision of: Growing Happiness, Healthiness and life-long success, and our values of Achieve, Aspire, Include and Wellness .
Personal Development
Forest school cultivates our five personal development drivers of communication, emotional intelligence, resilience, independence and team work through encouraging communication skills by enabling children to express themselves in an outdoor setting, fostering effective verbal and non-verbal communication. Through navigating natural challenges, it builds resilience, teaching children to adapt and persevere in unpredictable environments. Emotional intelligence blossoms as they connect with nature, fostering empathy and self-awareness. Teamwork thrives as children collaborate in outdoor activities, promoting cooperation and shared goals. Independence flourishes as children navigate the forest environment, making decisions, and problem-solving on their own, nurturing a sense of self-reliance.
Forest Schools offer a unique educational experience using the outdoor environment of the forest as a classroom. The New Economics Foundation (NEF) evaluated two schools to highlight how they can provide learning opportunities for children who typically do not do as well in the classroom. NEF also created a self-appraisal methodology for leaders and teachers from other Forest Schools to assess their performance. Key findings were that Forest Schools make a difference in the following ways:
· Confidence: children had the freedom, time and space to learn and demonstrate independence
· Social skills: children gained increased awareness of the consequences of their actions on peers through team activities such as sharing tools and participating in play
· Communication: language development was prompted by the children’s sensory experiences
· Motivation: the woodland tended to fascinate the children and they developed a keenness to participate and the ability to concentrate over longer periods of time
· Physical skills: these improvements were characterised by the development of physical stamina and gross and fine motor skills
· Knowledge and understanding: the children developed an interest in the natural surroundings and respect for the environment
Forest School Long Term Overview
