Forest School - Our Vision
Forest School instils a deep appreciation for the outdoors and fostering a strong understanding of environment. We aim for every child to engage in regular outdoor experiences, enriching their knowledge. By integrating outdoor learning into the curriculum, we cultivate curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and social skills, nurturing independent thinkers who actively question and appreciate the world around them.
Intent:
- To deliver sessions to all children throughout school based on the Forest school ethos, by a trained leader
- For all children in school to have opportunities to further develop their Knowledge and Understanding of the outdoors through regular Forest school sessions
- For class teachers to use the Forest space at every opportunity to enhance other curriculum subjects
- For children throughout school to have the opportunity for loose parts, self- directed play in the woods with their class teacher throughout the seasons
- To follow the progression of the National Curriculum for Science/ DT/ Geography/ PSHE/ Literacy/ Maths/ Art etc through the Elevate curriculum where appropriate in lessons and the EYFS Early Learning Goals of Understanding the World, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
- Give children a strong understanding and respect for the outdoor world around them.
- To enable children opportunities to be resourceful, resilient, respectful risk takers who understand that they are responsible for their own safety and actions.
- To support children to develop problem solving and social skills.
- To teach children outdoors in a way that encourages curiosity, stimulates creative thoughts, and develops pupils’ enjoyment and skills.
- To nurture independence and encourage children to ask questions about the world they live in.
Implementation:
- Lessons planned with clear progression across year groups, of skills and opportunities to develop responsibility with risk
- Delivery of elements of curriculum subjects following the national curriculum.
- Teaching and learning plans for holistic approach and opportunities to develop learner centred approaches,
- Skills are taught through practical demonstration and ample opportunities to contextualise and assimilate ideas are given
- Children with additional needs are supported by adults where necessary and additional support is in place for SEN and disadvantaged pupils to enable them to access the sessions at the appropriate level.
- Children in small groups have opportunities to reflect on sessions for Wild Explorers display
- Sessions are planned to revise and develop previous learning, build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and learn through practical exploration.
- Each year at least one Big Ideas topic has an outdoor element to provide further opportunities for outdoor cross-curricular learning.
- Specialist vocabulary is taught and built upon and effective questioning to communicate ideas is encouraged.
Impact:
- Children will develop a deep respect for nature
- Children will develop a knowledge and understanding of the outdoors environment and its importance in our lives
- Children will have opportunities to experience the mental health and well being benefits that are afforded from quality time in an outdoor setting
- Children will understand that they are responsible for their own safety through being supported to make their own risk decisions in an outdoor environment
- Children talk positively about their learning in Forest school
Please click here to access our long term plan curriculum plans.
Have a look at our Forest School and Outdoor Learning page and our Forest School blog for amazing ideas you can try at home:
