what is forest school?

Forest School is a child led inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

Forest School has a developmental ethos shared by thousands of trained practitioners around the world, who are constantly developing their learning styles and skills to support new and imaginative learners. Its roots reach back to the open-air culture, or free air life, seen as a way of life in Scandinavia where Forest School began.

Continued...

The process helps and facilitates more than knowledge-gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. It creates a safe, non-judgemental nurturing environment for learners to try stuff out and take risks. Forest School inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world and an understanding of how a learner fits within it.

Our approach to risk means that learners constantly expand on their abilities by solving real-world issues, building self-belief and resilience. We believe that risk is more than just potential for physical harm, but a more holistic thing, there are risks in everything we do, and we grow by overcoming them. Forest School therefore, helps participants to become, healthy, resilient, creative and independent learners.

“Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.”

Forest School Principles

Quality Forest School is delivery which holds to all six key principles that shape and govern the Forest School ethos. There are many forms of outdoor education and all have enormous value, however, Forest School is unique in its reach, delivery and effect.

ONE

Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.

TWO

Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world.

THREE

Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.

FOUR

Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.

FIVE

Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.

SIX

Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

QUALITY SESSIONS

It is only when we see the 6 principles working together do we truly see the value of Forest School. Underpinning our principles are some positive core beliefs.

Forest School’s learner-centred approach interweaves with the ever-changing moods and marvels, potential and challenges of the natural world through the seasons to fill every Forest School session and programme with discovery and difference. Making each session and every experience a valuable one.

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