Forest School

At Templewood School through weekly Forest School sessions we aim to instil a love of the great outdoors. Hands on experiences will develop self-esteem, confidence and independent learning. Templewood School envisage that Forest School will not be about adults telling children what to do and how to do it, but how to discover things for themselves. The use of the woodland setting, the various real tools and the natural resources will bring learning to life, creating an understanding of the balance of nature and the finite resources around us.

We aim to deliver child-led learning; carefully observing the interests and needs of each unique group of children in the early session stages, then letting the children lead the sessions through their own interests as the weeks progress. Adults will be there to scaffold and extend the endless learning experiences that will link in with the National Curriculum and EYFS. We want the children to take informed, self-calculated risks and choices to ensure their whole groups safety and enjoyment, whilst working as a team to solve problems, fostering communication and negotiation skills.  

What is Forest School?

"Forest School is an inspirational process, that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees". Forest School Association (2013

The key features of Forest School are as follows:

• The use of a woodland setting that is framed by strict safety routines and established boundaries that allows the flexibility and freedom for child-initiated learning.
• A high adult to pupil ratio allowing children to undertake tasks and play opportunities that challenge them but do not put them at undue risk of harm.
• Learning can be linked to the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage objectives whilst setting those objectives in a different context, not focused just on the natural environment.
• The freedom to explore using multiple senses is fundamental for encouraging creative, diverse and imaginative play.

As the children feel comfortable in the woods, the sessions become increasingly child-led and as such, Forest School is not about a set programme of planned activities. Children are given encouragement to direct their own learning. One class may spend two weeks looking for insects and move onto identification and habitat creation, whereas another group may not show this interest but may be intrigued by the mechanics of building a waterproof shelter large enough to house 6 children in, constructed with only natural materials. The role of supporting adults is therefore to stimulate, scaffold and extend the child's learning and observe them in play, to prepare for future sessions.  

A Typical Forest School Session

The learning opportunities at Forest School are endless, but a typical session may involve the following:

1. Dress appropriately for an outdoor session.
2. Walk to woodlands.
3. Meet at the Friendship Tree - which is the central meeting place whilst at Forest School.
4. Health and Safety discussion – The Forest School Practitioner will share any specific hazards from the Daily Risk Assessment; practise certain procedures e.g returning to the Friendship Tree (usually by playing games), setting up the hand washing station or putting out the Boundary Buddies, which the children have decided are useful for highlighting the edge of the woods or areas of caution, together.
5. Idea 'seeds' – The Forest School Practitioner introduces the session using a story, game or activity, this will be based on observations from previous sessions and then linked to their class curriculum wherever appropriate.
6. Free Choice - Children choose which activities they would like to engage in, adults may model certain ideas and skills to support learning e.g. how to whittle an elder wand with tools whilst other children work independently. Common Forest School activities include, but are not exclusive to:

• Lighting a campfire. • Shelter building. • Preparing and then Cooking food on an open fire.
• Discovering wildlife and their habitats. • Bush craft skills
• Woodland and natural art. •Imaginative play.

      7  To end the session we will gather and reflect.

“Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.” The naturalist David Polis observed.