What is Forest Schools?

Forest School is an inspirational process, that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.

Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and complements the wider context of outdoor and woodland education. -  Forest School Association.

Forest Schools uses a learner centred technique, which aims through long term, regular sessions in the outdoors to foster a relationship between the learner and the outdoors. Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners, who take supported risks with the assistance of qualified Forest School leaders.

 

Risky Play at Forest School

Risky play has tremendous value for young people.

Risky play comes in all sorts of shapes and forms, but its premise is always the same. Children develop physical, mental and social skills through activities which involve uncertainty and potential danger without being overly dangerous. This is why it is a key element of a modern curriculum. Activities at forest school are carefully risk assessed to ensure that they provide the balance of giving students new opportunities and the perception of danger within a safe and carefully managed environment.

Risky play often falls into 6 categories:

1. Climbing up high objects
2. Experiencing speed such as on a log swing
3. Using dangerous tools such as saws
4. Being near risky elements such as fire or water
5. Rough and tumble play with others
6. Disappearing games, such as hide and seek

 

How it works at Bracken Hill

Forest School sessions will be led by 2, level 3 qualified practitioners with the support of qualified teaching assistants employed by Bracken Hill. The sessions will be offered to key stage 2 and 3 students for one afternoon a week for a term per group, with groups typically consisting of 15-20 students.

Mrs. Brown and Mrs Witts will provide a range of activities for students to opt into which may include games, crafts, woodland knowledge, imaginative building, mud kitchen, tool use, climbing and building fires. Ultimately the sessions will be directed by the students’ individual interests and state of mind, adults will act as enablers.

All activities are thoroughly risk assessed and matched to the needs of each group. Class teaching assistants will also attend to support learning.