Forest School

Forest School by nature takes place outside, usually in woodland and is wild. The setting alone brings uncertainty, challenge, a need for flexibility and allows children to explore in a multi-sensory way that is so far removed from their usual experiences of indoor play and learning. We feel that all subjects are best taught in a 'hands on', practical manner and this is particularly the case when children are taught outdoors. It is the intention to teach all subjects in a cross curricular fashion, incorporating outdoor learning rather than it being an add on. Children are also regularly encouraged to take on new skills, opportunities to develop skills including the use of hand tools, lighting fires and observing wildlife.

• Learning to love the outdoor environment

• Using tools eg; saws, drills, whittling knives and fire steels

• Fire safety eg; making fires, maintaining fires and extinguishing fires responsibly

• Using ID charts to identify a range of organisms in different habitats

• Pond dipping

• Catching, identifying and returning organisms to the pond safely

• Responsibility for own safety and safety of others

The setting we have is particularly appropriate for the teaching and learning of our values love, forgiveness, respect, courage, truth and generosity at. As well as allowing our pupils to 'Live Life in All its Fullness', Forest School also develops self-esteem, confidence and social skills