Find Out About Forest School
In the picture below you can see when the whole school was involved in setting up 'Forest School'.
Children in Reception and Year 1 take part in Forest School activities on Thursday mornings on the days the rest of the school go swimming. They come to school dressed for the outdoors because they work outside whatever the weather!
The staff have to dress up to keep dry too!
We go outside - whatever the weather! |
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'Forest School' is a Scandinavian concept where the outdoors is used as an area for learning. Many of the activities evolve from the children's interests and ideas, and the natural materials found in the outdoors rather than paper, pencils and worksheets.
'Forest School' offers an outdoor classroom where the rules are minimal and easy to understand, there is no right or wrong, learning is life-long and there is risk-taking within a controlled environment. Children are encouraged to move away from adult interaction and to become more responsible for each other and themselves.
'Forest School' is about using the outdoors to promote confidence, self-esteem and independence. At Himbleton we are passionate about developing the whole child, not just their academic ability. The benefits of 'Forest School'to the children are many. Confidence, behaviour, concentration, independence, social, emotional and physical skills are all developed with positive effects on all areas of the child's life and learning.
Also, 'Forest School' is about exploring and experiencing the natural world through practical activities. The children go out in all weathers, all year round, exploring and learning from the seasons and environment changes. The children's interests along with the varied natural resources in our woodland are used to stimulate creative thinking, problem solving and skill development, all in the guise of play.
We recognise that in order to learn you have to engage and participate. For many children that engagement comes easily. However, some children find this really difficult and these children often lack confidence and have low self-esteem. Evidence shows that 'the main outcome of 'Forest School' is the nurturing, support and development of self-esteem of participants, so that they have a sense of self-worth and value themselves.'
To read more about it please open the attachment below, where you can read the 'Forest School' policy.