Forest schools have become an important part of the Early Years education in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. Practitioners quickly saw the huge benefits to children being educated in an outdoor setting. Staff from Bridgewater College visited these Forest Schools in 1995 and introduced the ethos into the UK. Forest Schools training and practice in Hertfordshire is quite new.
Year 2 pupils, this year will take part in Forest School sessions every Friday afternoon within the school grounds. Year 1 will begin Forest School sessions on a Thursday afternoon after February half term.
What will children learn at Forest School?
| Independence Responsibility: self /others Team work Problem solving skills |
Physical skills Language development Build self esteem Experience nature |
The Forest School experience is:
| Child led Flexible in structure Fun No need for writing Lead to life long learning |
Varied Includes planned activities Outdoors / real life Cross curricular |
"Many areas of the National Curriculum from the Early Years to KS4 are intrinsically covered in the Forest School experience without the programmes needing to be curriculum led".
There is no such thing as bad weather - just inappropriate clothing!
All children will be provided with school waterproof jackets, trousers and wellies. However a spare pair of clothes for your child to change into and wear underneath their clothing helps as some activities can be very muddy!