At St George’s, we feel that Forest School enhances and complements the curriculum at our school. Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all of our children opportunities to achieve and develop their confidence, resilience and self – esteem and build on their creativeness and independence through hands on learning experiences in our woodland environment.
Forest School is a child-initiated, educational process that promotes, observes and supports the social, emotional and physical development of children and young people in an outdoor woodland environment. It offers the children and young people the chance to take supported risks appropriate to that environment.
One of the main aims for Forest School is to develop children’s compassion for and connection to the woodland environment whilst teaching them about sustainability and biodiversity, which they can then apply throughout their lives.
At St. George’s, we have four level 3 Forest School leaders:
Miss Whittaker
Mrs McEvoy
Mrs Weston
Mrs Wilkinson
Letters will be sent to parents to inform them of the sessions their child will be taking part in – we work on a half termly rota to ensure all children are given the opportunity to experience the woodland environment at different points throughout their time at St. George’s.
During their Forest School sessions, children are encouraged to explore freely and develop their own ideas. Every child will have an individually tailored experience that is personal to them. Each week, Forest School leaders reflect on the sessions and plan future opportunities to develop the children’s interests. Children are also given the opportunity at the end of each session to reflect on their time in the Forest and contribute their own thoughts and ideas.
There are many risks within the Forest School environment and one of the main aspects of Forest School is encouraging children to take manageable risks under the careful guidance of the Forest School leaders. Before each session, Forest School leaders complete a ‘Daily Risk Assessment’ as well as risk assessments for all activities that will be on offer to the children which can all be found here:
Forest School Handbook