What is Forest School?

Forest school is about connecting children to nature, providing a setting for their innate curiosity to thrive. It approaches learning as a process and provides freedom for children to direct their own learning. The sessions are designed to build on learners’ self-confidence, independence, self-esteem & other transferable life skills.

What’s involved?

During a session there will be a led activity by the forest school leader, followed by a free choice section to allow independent learning, with a sharing and reflection time finishing off with a story.

Activities can include den building, knot work, fire lighting, tool work, wildlife identification, exploration activities and camp fires!

Where our forest school sessions take place:

The Radcliffe on Trent Infants Forest School is located in the nature garden area, leading off from one of the classrooms. It benefits from several established woodland trees and shrubs, a decked area complete with mud kitchen and a raised bed garden. We also use the school field and grounds for outdoor games & wildlife hunts.

Ethos of forest school

• Sessions takes place in woodland/natural setting
• Long term process with frequent/regular sessions
• Promotes holistic development
• Uses a range of learner centred processes to create a community for development & learning
• Offers learners opportunity to take appropriate supported risks
• Run by a qualified forest school practitioner