The Benefits Of Forest School
Our Philosophy
The philosophy of Forest School is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through an innovative, long term, education approach to outdoor play and learning in a woodland environment.
The Benefits
Children and young people enjoy being outdoors. Providing they are given this opportunity on a regular basis, on the correct platform, they will go on and harness the benefits of Forest School for themselves. In doing so, children and young people will increase their self belief, confidence, learning capacity, enthusiasm, communication and problem-solving skills and emotional well-being.
Achievement
-Achieve stretching national educational standards at primary school
-Achieve personal and social development and enjoy recreation
Forest School sets learning in a different context for children where they can undertake a range of practical activities and carry out small achievable tasks. At Forest
School children can develop their team working skills and also learn to become more independent. Those who are unfamiliar with woodlands and green spaces can become confident in using them and this
can form the basis of a life-long relationship with natural spaces.
Make a positive contribution
-Develop self confidence and successfully deal with significant life changes and challenges
-Developing enterprising behaviour
Forest School helps children to develop their confidence. As they become familiar with Forest School they can take their new-found confidence into school and into other areas of their lives. Forest
School can be particularly effective for children who find the classroom environment challenging. Children learn to solve problems and be creative and imaginative at Forest School thus showing
enterprising behaviour.Being healthy
At Forest School children are physically active a lot of the time and their stamina improves as they go through their Forest School sessions. Their experience can also help to lead to the
development of healthier lifestyles as children ask parents to take them on trips to woodlands and green spaces outside of school times. As the children gain confidence and improve their self-esteem
this can impact on their emotional and mental well-being.
Stay safe
The ‘wild’, and yet controlled, safe environment of Forest School ensures that children taking part naturally learn to assess risk and are encouraged to make sensible and informed decisions
about how to deal with unfamiliar and unpredictable situations (such as exploring or climbing trees, using tools to build shelters and dens). Much of the learning for a child comes as a result of the
opportunities they have for testing their own abilities in a real life context.
Print 