What is Forest School?

Forest School follows 6 key principles. It is happy, healthy learning in a natural setting. Forest School promotes success and achievement through personalised learning in an inclusive outdoor classroom. It offers opportunities for individuals to flourish and for their true potential to shine through with a focus on well-being, emotional development, social interaction and practical skills. It promotes success and achievement through child-led learning in a natural environment where all children can succeed.

Our Forest School provision is aimed at children who are unable to fully access mainstream education and/or need a complementary learning method. It takes place in a natural area where learning is child-led. Specifically, sessions follow childrens’ interests. As a result, the whole learning experience is tailored to the student. Furthermore, successes at Forest school are measured by outcome. This makes Forest School a safe, pressure free place to learn. Risky activities such as campfire cooking and tool use are integral Forest School. As such, children learn to manage their own risk with confidence. Trained Forest School Leaders run sessions and use observations to inform planning. These are also used to write the programme evaluation.