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St Bernadette

Catholic Primary School

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Forest School

The aim of our forest school.

Forest School is an opportunity for the children to learn and develop through active interaction and different activities while in an outdoor Forest school environment.  There are various aims in our forest school programme.

In line with the ethos of Forest School the school’s Forest school programme aim is designed to help enable children to develop their confidence, social skills, physical skills and self-esteem, as well as enabling children to build other life-long skills. This will be supported through various means including ensuring that every task set for the children is both small and achievable.  

Another aim of our Forest school programme is for the children to be able to learn about how to look after the environment around them. As well as develop an understanding of environmental sustainability and the importance of the natural world. To encompass this the children will learn about flora, and fauna, as well as the other elements in the natural world through our Forest school sessions.

An overriding aim is for the children to be empowered to make their own decisions, work together as a team, be facilitators in their own learning and freely explore the forest school environment.

 

Why are we doing forest school?

As described above Forest School is a fantastic programme with many benefits for the children’s development. It is also a wonderful way for the children to explore and immerse themselves in the outdoor environment, where children are scaffolded to be facilitators of their own learning and gain hands-on experience in the outdoors. So much can be learnt by experiencing the natural world, most of which you cannot learn through worksheets and online videos.

 

How will the children benefit?

The children can benefit physically, socially, communicatively and mentally.

Research supports that Forest school facilitates social development through social interactions and team building activities; Forest school benefits physical development by enabling children to tackle climbing risks and through activities with support fine motor development; Forest school also supports language and communication development through encouraging questioning and conversation, learning to follow directions, practice focus and attention as well as through learning new words which help expand their vocabulary. Forest school also promotes children’s mental health development by giving them the opportunity to take risks, develop resilience skills and form connections to the natural world.

 

How does Forest School fit with St Bernadette Catholic Primary School’s vision?

Forest School encompasses the school’s vision through inclusive and diverse practice as well as enabling children to be independent, decisive, respectful, democratic, self-confident and self-aware.

Also, in line with the school’s vision Forest School gives children the opportunity to spend time outdoors in an enriching natural environment in various (non-extreme) weathers.

Forest School also enables children to take some control in their lives whilst connecting with the natural world allowing children to gain a sense of freedom and learn through play. Which also aligns with the DFE’s Early Years Foundation Stage Framework vision.

al development through social interactions and team building activities; Forest school benefits physical development by enabling children to tackle climbing risks and through activities with support fine motor development; Forest school also supports language and communication development through encouraging questioning and conversation, learning to follow directions, practice focus and attention as well as through learning new words which help expand their vocabulary. Forest school also promotes children’s mental health development by giving them the opportunity to take risks, develop resilience skills and form connections to the natural world.

 

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