Forest School Sessions
What is Forest School?
Forest School is a learning process that inspires and is child centred. It offers the opportunity for holistic growth through regular sessions in the natural environment. Forest School is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking.
Forest School Philosophy at NPS
At Normanby Primary School, Forest School will create a ‘levelling’ for all children, allowed those that find ‘in-classroom’ learning more challenging the opportunity to thrive. It will allow children to connect with nature and their environment through regular sessions that are led by the children taking part, following the principles of Forest School.
What does Forest School involve?
Children take part in a range of activities in an outdoor environment, typically in woodland. The activities completed are directed by the children’s own interests and choices, to develop a number of different skills. Skills range from physical and emotional, to spiritual and holistic, to communication and social skills, all of which taking part in Forest School will support, without the participant consciously knowing they are doing so.
Children may take part in activities such as:
- Den/Shelter Building
- Woodland Exploration
- Woodland Games, such as ‘Predator’
- Wood Craft / Carving
- Bush Craft
- Fire Building
Where Will It Take Place?
Forest School sessions will take place during the school day. Typically, we will endeavour to complete our sessions on our wonderful school site, making the most of the facilities that we have on the school field. However, on occasion we will use areas of the woodland at Flatts Lane Country Park to further develop and progress the children’s skills, and to experience different environments and woodland types.
What Should You Wear?
In England, we need to be prepared for every eventuality! Appropriate clothing tends to depend on the season which children are taking part in Forest School, and should include, but not be limited to:
- Tracksuit bottoms/top/tshirt
- Layers (particularly in Autumn/Winter)
- Old trainers/walking boots
- Warm, waterproof coat
- Hat/gloves/scarf (cold weather)
- Cap/Sun Glasses (sunny, warm weather)
- Warm/layered socks
- Sun Cream
Spare footwear/clothing will also be required during the winter months.
It is also appropriate for all children to bring a water bottle to Forest School sessions.
