Forest School

Castor Forest School – Vision Statement

Reflecting our school’s Christian values and spiritual ethos, our Forest School aims to provide rich and rewarding experiences in nature for every child.

Our Forest School experiences will ignite curiosity as we champion our children’s right to play, explore the outdoors, encounter managed risk, and experience the richness of the natural world. We believe these experiences, foster resilience, free thinking, confidence, creativity and empower children to connect with others and ‘shine their light’.

Forest School moves beyond pre-planned curriculum-based activities to embrace the unplanned and unexpected discoveries that emerge in nature. In our beautiful outdoor space children can connect with their peers, initiate their projects and bring their ideas to life. Facilitating play and providing gentle guidance our Forest school Leader will also observe how children interact with the environment and each other. Above all nurturing a lifelong love of learning and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

What is Forest School? A Brief History and Ethos of Forest School

Forest school is a child centred, holistic approach to learning where children develop their skills through hands on experiences and play in an outdoor setting.

With its roots in Scandinavian outdoor culture, the forest school approach to learning arrived in the Uk in 1993 having been explored by lecturers and early childhood educators from Somerset.
Growing from there Forest School has had a regulatory body, The Forest School Association, since 2012 and its networks now deliver Forest school Training across the UK.

Forest School Principles

Each Forest School session is unique, a careful balance of the children’s interests and the ever-changing wonders of nature but each shares a set of core principles designed to ensure every child reaps the benefits of a quality Forest School experience.

Time: Forest School happens over time. Children will attend forest school sessions in a termly block. With weekly visits that allow children to build a connection with nature and consolidate their learning. As the children move up the school their Forest school session will happen in different terms allowing them the opportunity to all experience all the wonder of a changing environment .

Nature: Forest School takes place outside, in nature within a wooded area. At Castor we are lucky to have a beautiful treeline that provides an ‘wild space’ for building outdoor connections.

The Whole Child: Forest School has a holistic approach. Inspiring development on multiple levels. Our mind, heart, spirit and body all need attention and development. Taking a holistic approach develops a well-rounded person.

Managed Risk: Forest School in an environment where children can learn to take risks. Developing skills for keeping themselves safe by taking risks in a safely managed environment.

Facilitated by a Qualified Leader: Forest School is run by a qualified practitioner. Mrs Norton! With ongoing professional development.

Child-initiated: Forest School is learner centred and as far as possible initiated by the participants. Giving them ownership over their own personal development and change.

What happens at Forest School

Across an academic year, each cohort will enjoy Forest School sessions for a term. Then subsequently as the children transition through school, they will experience our beautiful woodland setting across all seasons where they can observe seasonal changes in the plants, trees and inhabitants and begin to make a lifelong connection with nature.

Children will develop understanding and respect for wildlife, plants and local ecosystems. They will develop sustainable and conservation attitudes, which we hope develops lifelong passions for protecting nature and our planet.

We will facilitate managed risk- taking, encouraging child-led activities, exploration and problem solving. Providing time and space for reflection is also important to us, fostering a deep appreciation for the natural world. Children will be encouraged to observe, question, and reflect on their experiences, deepening their understanding of the environment and their place within it.

A typical Forest School session

Forest school session follow a similar pattern but may vary based on pupil need or weather.
Preparation for Forest School – changing clothing, footwear and toileting happen in the classroom before heading over to the site.

Once on site:

• Brief Seated Introduction – reminder of rules and expectations, an opportunity to find a sense of calm in nature after leaving the walls of the classroom behind.
• Group game – a chance to be active, opportunities for teamwork and fun!
  Activity Introduction (modelling/ or shared examples) an overview of the available provision
• Time to engage – Children a given the opportunity and time to explore the activities suggested or to explore their own projects, within the parameters of a dynamic risk assessment!
• Seated round up – time for mindfulness and calm a story or song.
  Review of the session and sharing what worked well, and a chance for children to suggest what comes next.

Example plans, games & activities