Forest School
What Are Forest Schools?
“A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning.”
The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences.
By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland environment each participant has an opportunity to develop intrinsic motivation, sound emotional and social skills. These, through self awareness can be developed to reach personal potential.
Forest Schools has demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and through play, who have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self-motivated.
Forest Schools will aim to develop:
- Self Awareness
- Self Regulation
- Intrinsic motivation
- Empathy
- Good social communication skills
- Independence
- A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence
(taken from: Forest Schools Education).
At Hadnall Primary children in Class one have opportunities for Forest School throughout the year, both on the school site and off site. Staff in Class One are trained forest School Leaders (Mrs Costelloe, Mrs Bebb and Mrs Foster). Information regarding which children are attending Forest School is sent through the Weekly Mail on Friday's.