Forest School Ethos

Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supports risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting, which can be linked to the National Curriculum.

All the children at Monkleigh Primary School, take part all year, this gives the opportunity to work in and experience the different Seasons.

We connect our children to their environment by providing a natural space for them to become independent learners. We teach our children resilience and risk taking in a safe environment. We also equip our children with love and respect for the outdoors and increase their social and emotional skills. Forest School is a wonderful outlet for children, as they find it a nurturing, relaxing and sensory place to be, a classroom without walls. All children learn differently and some may not thrive in a classroom setting.

Forest School aims to boost confidence through setting students up to succeed. All tasks are broken down into small achievable tasks that match the students capabilities.

Learning and development

It is our aim that Forest School will uphold the high standards and expectations that our school sets for its pupils. This serves as a cornerstone to increasing their life skills and experiences throughout their primary school education.

The primary aims of Forest School are to:

Build self-esteem and confidence in children.

Develop personal and social skills.

Build resilient, determined and independent learners.

Develop children and encourage creativity to encourage collaboration.

To develop and build the ideas of risk management and risk benefit.

To improve children’s life skills and experiences and decision making.

Use tools to create, build or manage.

Learn how to manage failures.

Develop practical skills.

To enable children to gain a respect for the natural environment and wildlife.

To transfer negative behaviours into positive ones.

Discover how they learn best.

Regularly experience achievement and success.

Develop communication skills and language.

Improve physical motor skills.

These aims will be covered with a variety of Forest School teachings and strategies. that not only looks to aid the children in their learning, but also be provided in a positive, enjoyable, creative and inspiring manner.That will allow them to transfer the skills and knowledge from the Forest school into the classroom and life outside of school.

The 6 Principles of Forest School

1. Forest School is a long-term process.

2. Forest School takes place in a natural wooded environment.

3. Forest School aims to promote holistic development.

4. Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks.

5. Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners.

6. Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes.

Here are some of our Forest School activities:

Den building

Bug Hunting

Flora and fauna identification

Treasure hunts

Nature art

Composting

Building animal habitats

Planting for wildlife

Recycling

Tree dressing

Cutting our CO2 emissions

Exploring different viewpoints

Tool usage

Making clay woodland animal/spirits

Campfire safety and lighting

Cooking

Planting fruit and vegetables

Team challenges

Making animal feeders

There are many more activities we do in Forest School sessions, these are a selection of some of them.

       

 

Our Amazing Area.