What is Forest School?

‘Forest Schools is an innovative educational approach to outdoor education and learning.’

Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through the sessions. It is a program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

Forest School has a developmental ethos shared by thousands of trained practitioners around the world, who are constantly developing their learning styles and skills to support new and imaginative learners. Its roots reach back to the open-air culture seen as a way of life in Scandinavia where Forest School began. It arrived in the UK in 1993 and has grown from strength to strength since then.

As well as learning about nature, developing practical skills, children are given the time and space to interact in different ways, developing their social and communication skills, practical skills and emotional intelligence. 

Forest School provides a unique environment for all participants. When children are taken out of the classroom to learn in the outdoors their behaviour always changes. The freedom of space, the ability to move, to explore, communicate with their peers and the adults in a different environment has a positive impact. 

Mrs Richardson is a certified Level 3 Forest School Practitioner and will be coordinating and leading Forest Schools at St John's School.

We will also have other staff members and volunteers supporting with the activities each week but Mrs. Richardson will be planning and facilitating the sessions.

We are really fortunate at St John's Primary and Nursery School as we have an area of woodland on site. The children will be using this space during their Forest School sessions.

Forest school provides many opportunities to learn how to work with others and develop teamwork. We will also be learning how to light fires safely and use different tools such as bow saws, loppers and drills. The sessions will have a flexibility in order to design and build on an individual’s innate motivation, positive attitudes and/or interests.

Reception children will be starting their Forest School adventure in the Autumn 2 Term and will have more sessions in Spring 2 and Summer 2 Term.

Buxton Bears having been having a wonderful time in the woods. If you click on the links below it will take you to their class page and photographs of their time each week.