About Forest School
Forest school first began in Scandinavia in the 1950’s as a means of helping children to learn about the natural world through stories, songs and practical experiences in an outdoor classroom. It’s value in building confidence, self-esteem and independence was quickly recognised and forest school soon spread.
Forest school encourages children to take a chance, to explore risk and to take the time to stop and reflect on their experiences, asking questions and making sense of their own thoughts and feelings in the natural world. Children gain a valuable lesson in healthy, active lifestyles through a child led approach, developing holistically, physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually in a safe, stimulating, positive and natural environment.
Forest school provides a child centred approach to learning and an opportunity for children to develop their love and understanding of the natural world. At Hartford Infant School our school site is used for weekly sessions, and clear boundaries and agreements are established with the children.
See our Forest School Policy on the panel to the side of this page.
Our Forest School Site
At Hartford Infant School we share a large playing field and several playgrounds with the Junior School and the usage is clearly timetabled to allow each school maximum use of the areas. Over recent years we have worked hard to develop the outdoor area, and now flower beds and planters create a wildlife haven for our children (and many insects/small creatures) to enjoy as well as a forest school area.
We have developed a small forest school area with a log circle and an establishing fire pit. As part of this area we have a number of different British trees, including one that is perfect for low level climbing for our infant children. We have created a digging area as well as a bug hotel in which to explore minibeasts and have several good spots for den building. Our site is checked daily for risks and is looked after by our forest school leaders to ensure sustainability.
Aims of Forest School at Hartford Infant School
Health and Safety
In forest school children learn life skills of assessing and managing their own risks and clear boundaries and agreements (rules) are established with the children. Risk Assessments are carried out before each forest school session by the forest school Leaders and teaching staff.
See our Forest School Risk Assessment on the panel to the side of this page.
Forest School Sessions
Miss Lynch and Miss Legg will be leading a forest school Programme for all the children, alongside class teachers, teaching assistant and regular volunteers, each week. Sessions will run all year round and in all weathers (except in extreme circumstances) and include focused, planned activities that children are encouraged to participate in with the support of an adult, as well as child initiated activities using natural resources to stimulate imagination, creativity and investigation.
Activities may include den and shelter building, whittling using potato peelers, tree climbing, fires, exploring flora and fauna, natural collections, sawing wood to make badges, creating mud characters and pictures using natural paints as well as songs, stories and team games!
Clothing
To ensure children gain the best experience from Forest School sessions, appropriate clothing must be worn. This includes;
See our Forest School Information Leaflet for Parents and Carers on the panel to the side of this page.
We will update the Facebook page with photos of these exciting sessions.