Forest School

Forest School Intent Statement

We believe that children should be able to have access to regular sessions in a woodland environment which allows them to explore, engage in risky play and feel connected with their community. The sessions create a new sense of awe and wonder within the grounds despite it being a familiar environment. The children have time to stop and notice, enthusing one another and sharing their interests with their peers. At Alverstoke Infants we are lucky to have large grounds with a field, small pond and small woodland. Our proximity to the beach offers a variety of outdoor learning opportunities. Learning outdoors is also highly valued at this school and opportunities to cover the curriculum through outdoor activities are regularly utilised.

Forest School compliments the school’s vision and can have a positive impact for thechildren involved. There are many benefits to the Forest School ethos backed up with a growing amount of research in the field. Forest School itself is different to outdoor learning, there are overlaps between the two, but it is the presence of all six Forest School principles that make it unique.

These principles encourage nature connection and holistic development of the whole child. They include:

The same group of learners taking part in long term regular sessions
Developing a sense of community
The use of a natural environment such as a woodland
Holistic development of the child, fostering resilience, confidence and independence
Shared responsibility, providing opportunity for supported risks
Sessions that are run by qualified Forest School practitioners

The activities on offer vary with the seasons and the children’s interests. Some favourite activities include:

Den building
Bug hunting
Climbing trees
Natural craft making
Use of tools e.g. palm drill and mallet
Rope swing
Fire lighting and group campfire cooking

Intent

Implementation and Impact

Regular sessions with the same group of children

Year 1 – six week programme through Spring for each class

Year 2 – 2 x six week programme though Autumn and Summer for each class
New relationships formed working in different contexts

Risky play

Opportunities offered for climbing, running, digging, tool use and exploration
Improvement in confidence and self-esteem

Holistic development

Lots of independent decision making and problem solving. Children returning to the same activity showing confidence and progress.

Sense of community

Children and adults having time to bond and create a reciprocal relationship that values one another’s interest thanks to having extra time!

Shared responsibility – risk assessment

Children are asked to keep themselves safe by following the rules. Many children will risk assess when they notice e.g. animal waste, low lying branches, rubbish etc.
Children are more aware of risk and ways to be safe.

Sense of awe and wonder

We take time to notice seasonal changes and look closely at the wildlife around us. The children share this love of their environment with their friends and it ripples around the school. Spotting Goshawks, woodpeckers, frogs, squirrels and a huge host of invertebrates!

When asked, the children attending the Forest School sessions:

Reported an improvement in teamwork skills (team ant)
Showed a curiosity for the world and asked many questions (curious chameleon)
Showed an ability to try something new or to be brave – risk taking (tough tortoise)
Improved their perseverance using tools and felt proud of their final product (tough tortoise)
Agreed they had learnt something new about the world improving their science knowledge (wise owl)