Forest School

Our Forest School is run by our full time Ranger Mrs James who has achieved the Level 3 Forest School Leader status, Level 3 Outdoor First Aid and Food and Hygiene. 

We opened our Forest School in September 2022. There are a number of designated areas in our Forest School; this includes a log cabin – which is the heart of our Forest School, a fire pit and log circle, raised gardening beds, woodland play (which includes balancing ropes, a hammock, and a tree swing), a mud kitchen and small world areas. 

In line with the Forest School ethos, we aim to improve the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, independent and creative learners. We do this through the delivery of many activities which promote the opportunity to build on these skills in our natural world. These activities include bush craft skills, cooking on the fire pit, seasonal activities, bug hunts, bird watching, ecology sessions (flora and fauna), woodwork using tools, exploratory play, den building, exploring our local mountains and outdoor science experiments. Challenges are set out in the areas and there are focus tasks set at each session. The learning opportunities are endless and we find it difficult to fit them all in!

The sessions are delivered to each year group from Nursery to Year 6. Our learners are becoming increasingly independent within the Forest School. Older pupils are given opportunities to ‘Buddy Up’ with our younger children to help them within the Forest School. Each year group has a floor book where their time in Forest School is recorded and which they take ownership of.

When the children enter KS2, they take ownership of their Forest School learning through a Forest School Passport.

The children absolutely love their sessions and every single one of them offer positive feedback at the end of the sessions. We have received comments such as “I just feel calm here – my nerves disappear,” “I just love everything about Forest School,” “Coming to Forest School is like instant stress relief-It makes me feel so calm and relaxed!” and “Last night I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited- I love learning about nature.” 

Forest School sessions have a huge positive impact on our pupils’ well-being. 

We also organise Parent and Child Workshops which have been a huge hit. The Forest School involves the whole school community where everyone has the chance to get involved.