With love and faith, we aspire and achieve
Background
The idea of Forest Schools was first developed in Scandinavia, where it was found that children benefited from learning and playing in the outdoors environment. Research has found children attending Forest Schools benefit from:
What do we do?
Forest School sessions take place every week, come rain or shine, throughout the school year. This allows the children time to develop activities and see how the natural environment changes with the seasons. We will not go out in high winds or lightning storms for safety reasons.
A typical session is as follows:
· Arrive at Forest School – a count is taken by the children to check everybody’s there.
· Introduction to the session – plus a reminder of safety rules and sometimes a listening activity.
· All the children complete an activity – this is usually linked to class work.
· Children are then allowed to choose an activity.
· At the end of the session we all meet up again to talk about what they have enjoyed.
· We then have another count, before walking back to class.
Activities range from, blindfold games, den making, painting using mud paints, treasure hunts, challenges, using tools, bug hunting, cooking on a camp fire and many more. Most activities are designed so that the children have the opportunity to learn about, use and investigate natural materials, animals and plants.
What do the children need to wear?
On Monday children will need to bring to school a bag containing their Forest School clothes. After lunch the children will get changed into their clothes and then we will all walk to the Forest School area at school.
It would be best if girls bring an old pair of trousers if they wear a skirt to school.
In cold weather, the children will need many more layers of clothing, plus hats and gloves to keep warm.
Children should also bring a warm waterproof coat to every session, wellington boots/walking boots/old trainers and if they have them waterproof trousers. We realise that not all parents have waterproof trousers, so the school has some for the children to borrow if they need them.
The children will only enjoy the sessions if they can keep warm and dry. Please take care to pack clothes appropriately for the weather on the day. As the explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes said, "There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."
Volunteers
Forest School best takes place when we have good adult supervision of the children. Ideally we would like at least 1 adult for every 6 children. Consequently, we would welcome adult volunteers to help us with each session. Volunteers can be parents of children from any class, grandparents, or other relatives over 18 years old. Unfortunately, adults cannot be included in our supervising category if they have younger children with them.
Whilst at Forest School, we hope that the volunteers can:
· Encourage the children’s independent play.
· Work with small groups to remind children of what they need to do to complete a task.
· Encourage cooperative play and conversation.
· Let school staff know if there are any problems.
· Comment on any interesting activities the children have developed, to help with our assessment.
Volunteers will not be expected to be involved in any first aid, or supervising toileting, to comply with the school’s child protection policy.
Whilst at Forest School we also ask that parents try to encourage their own child to work away from them, to develop their self confidence and friendships with others in their class.