Forest School

What is Forest School?

Forest School sessions take place away from the main settings. We will be using a small clearing on Normandy Common by permission of the parish council.

 

Although appropriate risk assessments are carried out and regularly reviewed we do not make the site a sterile place so that children can learn to assess and take risks for themselves. A risk-to-benefit analysis system is used to enable children the opportunity to play in a ‘safe-enough’ environment but not one which is completely risk-free.

 

We usually take the children out every Monday morning. The benefit to children’s development that is seen through attending Forest school sessions only happens over time, as they 

• begin to feel comfortable in a new environment

• learn new ways of interacting and communicating with each other

• begin to experiment with their play in the outdoors

• get mucky and even wet (there is no such thing as inappropriate weather just inappropriate clothing!)!

 

We will

• go into the woods in all weathers, except for high winds (when the risk of falling branches is too high) and thunder storms

• be going out in the cold (the children will learn how to keep warm by moving about)

• allow the children to stamp in puddles, paint with mud and sticks, slide, touch the mud (and whatever else allows them to experience the world around them)

• provide waterproof trousers (they will need their own waterproof coat and wellington boots, and hats and gloves which are labeled will also be helpful. Please make sure your children are dressed appropriately).

 

During each child’s first few sessions in the woods we will make sure that they learn the rules of Forest Schools. We will use games to teach the children where the boundaries of our site are and what to listen for so that they will always come back when called. When we are having campfire sessions there are further rules to teach children the dangers of fire, also taught through games. It is very important that the children learn that they can be trusted by the adults to follow the rules as this will keep us all safe.

 

The play, in Forest School sessions is intended to be play-based and as child-initiated and child-led as possible. As they grow more secure and familiar with the environment we expect to see them using the woods as they use the Nursery setting, initiating activities with each other and using the resources around them.

• Each of our sessions will begin with an interactive safety talk and a recap of our rules

• We will finish each session with an opportunity for each child to share with the others what they have been doing.