Forest School

Forest schooling is an ethos driven rather than an activity based approach to learning. We recognise the importance of the holistic development of the child.

In order to develop holistically children must be given positive opportunities to:

• Play and Explore with what they already know.
• Learn actively though perseverance, enjoyment and concentration.
• Think creatively and critically by having their own ideas, making links to prior knowledge and by having opportunities to make their own choices.

At Forest School we do this together, in an outdoor setting, meeting the individual needs of the child and inspiring them to be confident lifelong learners. This year we will be developing our school grounds to include a new designated forest school area. We hope that this will encourage many different types of insects and animals to build habitats here. We also use the open space on Kingsdown Avenue.

Whilst undertaking Forest school sessions the children develop:

• Bush craft skills such as; fire lighting, cleaving wood and sawing timber
• Creative skills utilising the natural environment and resources available to them
• Specific scientific knowledge such as the difference between flowering and non-flowering plants and animal and leaf identification
• Children also develop communication and team work skills.

By allowing children to freely choose their own activities children are able to become engrossed in things that interest them and undertake a deep level of learning. By managing their own risks in all they do we are equipping children with the tools needed to thrive in challenging and potentially dangerous environments.

Forest School Sessions are led by Mrs. Khan and Mrs. Smith who are both Level 3 accredited practitioners and many other members of staff support during these sessions.

Read more about Forest School at St. Mark’s:

• Forest School Handbook
• Forest School Presentation to Parents – Autumn 2019

Gallery

Forest School and outdoor sessions begin in Reception. Here are some comments about Forest School from our Reception children:

• “I like learning outside.”
• “We worked together to look at how the leaves had changed.”
• “I like Forest School.”

Also see: More Images from Forest School