At St Bartholomew’s CE (VC) Primary we are firmly committed to the principles of Forest Schools, which form an important part of our curriculum for the whole school. Forest School is a type of outdoor education in which our children learn personal, social and technical skills. It offers children many opportunities to achieve and develop confidence through hands-on learning in a woodland environment.
Forest School uses the outdoor environment as a means to build independence, teamwork, problem solving skills and self-esteem. The Forest School curriculum compliments the topics in the classroom and the woodland environment is used to support all areas of learning including mathematics and literacy.
Forest School follows a set of principles that guide each session:
- Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
- Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
- Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
- Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
- Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
- Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
