St Thomas Of Canterbury

Forest Friends

 

 

 

The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through an innovative, long term, educational approach to outdoor play and learning in a woodland environment.

 

It is delivered through play and provides an opportunity to learn about the natural environment. It allows children to handle risks, such as working with tools and building camp campfires. It encourage children to use their own initiative to solve problems and it promotes co-operation and team building with others. 

 

Most importantly, its great fun!

Forest Schools aim to develop:

 

• Self Regulation

 

• Personal motivation

 

• Empathy

 

• Good social communication skills

 

• Independence (self help skills)

 

• A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and self-confidence

 

• Self Awareness

Forest school aims to educate the WHOLE CHILD and is concerned with the pupils holistic development. It focuses on more than their academic achievement and looks to develop their social, physical, emotional, spiritual and communication skills. It's fully inclusive regardless of age, race, gender, or ability and everyone is welcome to attend. Children who sometime struggle to concentrate in a traditional classroom setting often thrive at forest school as they are allowed to make their own decisions, lead their own learning and take some responsibility for themselves and their friends.

Nature Deficit Disorder

 

Due to a variety of factors, children in today's society often suffer from 'Nature Deficit Disorder'. This basically means that a whole generation of children are loosing their connection with the outdoor world and may not experience playing outside with friends, building dens, enjoying a game of hide and seek in the woods and going on a bug hunt as previous generations have. This is due to us protecting our children from the dangers of the outside world such as traffic and grooming, the increase in the amount of technology that children now are able to access and a reduction in the amount of green spaces close to our homes and schools. 

 

Forest school aims to rebuild this connection and encourage children to appreciate the wonderful world that mother nature gave us. It encourages children to consider the environment more carefully and become more responsible in looking after our planet and local environment. 

The Forest School is being rolled out throughout the EYFS initially and all children will be able to experience Forest School sessions within the Reception & Nursery classes through the school year.

 

There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes! This means that forest school will take place whatever the season and children will be dressed accordingly. 

 

Both KS1 & KS2 pupils will be encouraged to use the outdoor space and will be involved in the design and construction of the designated woodland area. The space will be accessible for all and teaching staff will be encourage to use the space to enhance their lessons when delivering other areas of the curriculum.

 

 

St Thomas Of Canterbury Forest Friends Handbook

(Policies & Procedures)