The WMS Forest School is a child-led approach to learning, incorporating children’s right to play, to access the outdoor environment and to feel success. Forest Schooling is a unique way to build independence and self-esteem in young children, encouraging self-respect, respect for others and respect for the environment. It is child-centred, holistic exploration based and built on nature connection. It encourages controlled risk-taking and works wonders for confidence and social-emotional development. At WMS we run weekly garden-based sessions for all of our children. The older children in our Children’s House end their session each week with a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows!
The 6 Principles of Forest School
- Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions outside, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School.
- Forest School takes place in a suitable outdoor environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
- Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
- Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
- Forest School is run by trained Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
- Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning.
Benefits of Forest School
Forest School has been shown to benefit all children in the following key areas of learning:
- Experimentation, mistakes, repetition and improvements.
- Risk management.
- Improved speaking, listening and vocabulary.
- Physical mobility and agility.
- Increased self-confidence and awareness of the needs of others.
- Increased knowledge and understanding of the natural world.
- Learn knots, weaving, tool use, fire lighting and working with wood, plants and soil.
- Problem solving and collaboration.
- Increased focus and interest in learning.
What to expect at Forest School
Outside exploits include building dens, digging clay mines, and creating museums for natural treasures found in the outdoors.
Children will need boots or wellies, a hat, a warm, waterproof coat, gloves and layers of clothing for the winter.
What Forest School promotes
Communication and Language
Forest School is the perfect environment for the child to use their own voice. The use of role play, imagination and creativity is encouraged to help the child develop. The children’s listening and attention skills are developed through following instructions and expressing opinions.
Physical Development
Gross motor skills are developed by digging, climbing, lifting and exploring. Fine motor development is refined with regular use of tools or equipment. Children use real materials and develop practical skills to use every day.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Children are independent and are encouraged to choose their own activities during the session. At Forest School children develop their self-esteem and confidence through decision making and evaluating risk. The ground rules and routine help the children understand social boundaries and expectations. Children form strong friendships as Forest School takes place in small groups. Teamwork is encouraged when completing activities such as shelter building.
Understanding the World
Forest School is a hands-on learning experience of the natural environment. The sessions will teach children respect for the natural environment, animals and other people. At Forest School children explore and make decisions themselves, thereby developing their own scientific mind.
Expressive Arts and Design
Children develop their role play and imagination skills. Art activities can be planned to help the children further develop their creativity.
We are extremely lucky to have very well qualified and experienced Forest school staff
Here is a summary from our lead Forest School teacher Miss Brigit:
“Each session starts with a circle time where we sing our forest school song and play our Nature Game. We can be whatever we’d like to be and perform the sound or action of the animal/plant/rock that we choose to impersonate.
‘Today I’d like to be a rainbow!’ (Arms slowly drawing a large half circle overhead).
Our children are incredibly imaginative with this, and we’ve had stars, grass, planets, clouds, rain, wind, air and of course lots of animals, dinosaurs and superheroes!
We are lucky to have lots of special visitors at Forest School: Squiggle the squirrel, Iggy the hedgehog, Mr Bear, Mr Wizard, Madame Winter, Woody and Johnny (our visible and invisible elves respectively) and Snowy the Owl (to name but a few).
They often come to see us because they wonder if the children could help them out by finding something that they have lost, building a den or nest, or maybe creating a magic potion…
The children always save the day and are amazingly creative, building homes for their animal friends and coming to the rescue of fairies and elves.”
