Vision 

To have a dedicated Forest School that promotes holistic development of all children through child-centred exploration, fostering a deep connection with nature through outdoor learning experiences.  

Intent 

A creative and progressive Forest School Programme to enable our children to build and advance their knowledge of the natural world; to develop forestry skills; an understanding of the risks and fun around them; and how their own actions influence others. Through harnessing a love of nature and guided independence, we provide children with safe opportunities outside to grow physically and emotionally so they can fulfil their potential as happy, kind, resilient, confident, independent learners. 

Implementation 

Knowledge and Skills Rich:  

Great Kingshill Forest School skills and activities are introduced in the Foundation Stage. Pre-school and Reception use our own Forest School area for exploration whilst engaging with their own outside spaces helping to develop early scientific, physical, language, social/collaborative and other skills following children's own interests. In Forest School, they begin to experience more specific Forest School routines, activities and vocabulary and have access to this throughout the year in almost all weathers. 

Year 1-Year 6, pupils experience Forest School sessions over each term and season. The skills taught are adapted to the physical and cognitive developmental stages of the learners with time devoted to awareness and understanding of specific terminology, understanding of guidelines and rules for safety, risk assessments, and use of routines and boundaries, as well as confidence-building, exploration and activities for learning skills of collaborative working.  

Once routines and expectations are well-established pupils are introduced to discrete 'Forest School' skills, for example lighting fires or knot tying, or some knowledge that reinforces their class learning. Although these are frequently scientifically based, the Forest School activities often also connect with other curriculum areas such as playing Viking games or Woodworking skills. 

Pupils are encouraged to choose from previous activities to consolidate their learning or interests independently in future sessions. Learning based on, for instance, development of cooperative social skills, independent or resilient attitudes, relaxation/mindfulness, increasing self-esteem are also a very important part of Forest School teaching and learning.  

Progression Led:  

Specific Forest School skills become progressively more challenging. The Forest School leader adapts the potentially riskier or more difficult aspects to match the developmental readiness of the learners in any group. Some may require sensitive adaptations to be made to an activity for it to be safe or manageable for children following a risk/benefit assessment for an individual or group. 

Language and Vocabulary Rich:  

Forest School is an ideal time to develop and promote language skills. Informal sessions give opportunities for pupils to follow their own interests and allows pupils to use and experiment with language freely in a variety of ways. Problem solving with others on a challenging building project; observations when pond-dipping or describing the flora and fauna they have seen. Pupils often use vocabulary recently learned from a history topic, for example, when outside making a stone age shelter, or digging for dinosaur bones.  

Pupils also find inspiration from being outdoors to perform songs or plays they have devised, act out dramas, and enjoy debates/discussions about topical issues around nature.  

Experience Rich:  

We aim to wholly base Forest School at Great Kingshill on first-hand real experiences of the natural world. Much of the learning is based around experiencing changing seasons; jumping in puddles, swinging from branches, mixing up mud, identifying plants and trees, watching ice on grass, holding worms, watching bees, spotting creatures in the pond, discovering the feel of newts or listening to birdsong.  

All bring learning to life in a fun, safe environment. 

Assessment 

Forest School teaching and learning forms part of the regular cycle of reviews, meetings, observations, feedback to governors and SLT to consider what has been achieved and to plan and implement further improvements. Due to the special focus on individual development and wellbeing, much of the evidence is collected from asking pupils their views and through observations from the Forest School staff.  

This is done systematically in ways adapted to the ages and stages of the pupils to ensure detailed and accurate information. Children are repeatedly enthusiastic about the impact of Forest School, and adults in particular commenting on the impact on mental well-being, their child’s enjoyment of learning new practical skills and developing knowledge of the natural world. 

Impact 

Staff report many of their children seem more relaxed and engaged when outdoors in our natural area, often seeing a different version to the one that they see in a classroom setting, especially some pupils with additional needs. We look to give our children different learning experiences throughout the year. Celebrating achievements and harbouring a positive attitude gives each child the chance to grow confidence, independence and resilience and develop their aspirations for the future.