Forest School is a huge part of our curriculum offer, the documents below shows the importance of Forest School and the progression throughout the school year linked to learning and development:
BNS Forest School progression chart prime areas
BNS Forest School progression chart specific areas
What is Forest School?
Forest School has been defined by the Forest School England network as:
An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland environment.
Forest Education Initiative, 2005a
Forest School at Beechdale is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for growth through regular sessions. It is available year round and supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.
There are several key aspects to Forest School that differentiate it from many other outdoor education activities. Although some of the individual features outlined below are not unique to Forest School, when brought together they provide an experience for children that they would not get elsewhere. These defining features are important as they emphasise how and why Forest School is different in terms of its benefits for children. The features can be described as follows;
- The use of a woodland (wild) setting
- A high ration of adults to pupils
- Learning can be linked to national Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage objectives
- The freedom to explore using multiple senses
- Regular contact for the children over a significant period of time
What is Forest School? | Forest School Association
