Forest School 

Our Vision:

To give each child attending Forest School a rich and abundant experience, with the opportunity to develop a positive relationship with the natural world.

To increase each child’s confidence, self-esteem and respect in preparation for self-regulation in an ever changing world. To provide children with the opportunity to achieve their holistic, full potential and live their life to the fullest.

Our Aims:

To provide an opportunity for individuals to develop, learn and enjoy themselves.

• To provide a safe and non-threatening environment in which children can take risks, make choices and initiate their own learning.

• To help children understand, appreciate and care for the natural environment.

• To provide ways of developing practical life skills in an outdoor environment.

• To develop self-esteem, confidence and a positive disposition to learning through the completion of small, achievable tasks.

• To meet the needs of children with all learning styles.

• To develop social and team working skills.

• To enable children to be independent, self-motivated and considerate.

• To be true to the forest school ethos and approach.

• To develop a secure, happy and welcoming environment.

• To provide stimulation and varied learning activities appropriate to the child’s needs and stages of development.

• To help each child build self-esteem, confidence, independence and self-control and interpersonal skills.

At Sir Henry Fermor school we provide Forest school learning opportunities that are enjoyable, challenging and fun. Forest School supports the personal development of all children in our care and promotes good physical and mental health.

Forest School is a type of outdoor education in which children visit woodlands, learning personal, social and technical skills. It has been defined as “an inspirational process that offers children opportunities to achieve and develop confidence through hands-on learning in a woodland environment”.

Forest School uses the woods and forests as a means to build independence and self-esteem. Topics introduced are cross-curricular, for example the role of trees in the eco system and recognition of plants and animals. However, the personal skills are also considered highly valuable such as team work and problem solving. In addition to this the woodland environment can be used to learn about more abstract concepts such as mathematics and communication.

Our Forest School team:

Mrs Patient (Level 3 Qualified) Forest School Lead

Miss Greenwood (Level 3 Qualified) (Maternity)

Mr Woods (Currently Training) Forest School Assistant

At Sir Henry Fermor school, we are fortunate to have a designated wooded site on our school grounds set aside for Forest school. Forest school is regularly programmed in our Early Years classes. Each other year group gets allocated a term in which they have Forest school.

Our Forest School sessions show a gradual progression from adult directed activities to child led play/activities, with the emphasis on the children leading and controlling their own learning. This will happen at different rates, depending on the individuals taking part. Activities selected will depend on the learner’s age, stage of development and interests. The activities provide a starting point and children may choose to take activities in a different direction from the one intended.

Every child at Sir Henry Fermor will experience sessions of Forest School and have the opportunity to develop essential physical and personal skills in this unique space.

Most importantly, at Forest school, the children learn how to appreciate, care for and look after their natural world.

'No one will protect what they don't care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.'

David Attenborough

Activity Opportunities

• Field studies Activities – minibeast hunts, tree identification, bird watching, life cycle games
• Sensory Activities – games to do with colour, smell, sound, touch, blindfold games
• Bush Craft – shelter building, knot use, fire lighting and cooking, wild foods, whittling
• Woodland Crafts – willow crafts, natural jewellery, weaving, natural dyes, traditional crafts, threading natural materials.
• Teambuilding and trust games – blindfold games, circle games, problem solving activities, team games
• Wildlife Conservation – tree planting, nest box construction, coppicing, fence/path building
• Imaginative activities – story telling, drama, role play, songs
• Physical Play – tree climbing, balancing, log dragging, digging
• Construction – shelter building, rope swings,  pulleys