Forest School is the name for an approach to educating children in the outdoors on a regular basis. This work will support the main curriculum (particularly literacy, science, maths and the arts) and will have a strong emphasis on raising all children’s self-esteem and independence.

At Forest School all participants are viewed as:

• equal, unique and valuable
• competent to explore & discover
• entitled to experience appropriate risk and challenge
• entitled to choose, and to initiate and drive their own learning and development
• entitled to experience regular success
• entitled to develop positive relationships with themselves and other people
• entitled to develop a strong, positive relationship with their natural world

(Forest School Association)

An integral part of the Forest School experience is that children will experience the outdoors in all weathers. With the exception of very high winds and thunder storms, please assume that your child will be outside when they take part in Forest Schools, even if it is for a shortened session. To help achieve this, we will ask you to supply:

• Wellingtons or walking boots.
• Waterproof trousers and coat.
• Layers of clothing for winter.
• Hats, gloves, scarves.
• On sunny days, a sun hat and sun cream.
• Long sleeve tops and trousers all year round.

Please bear in mind your child could possibly get muddy! Forest School programs operate all year round regardless of weather conditions. If you have any spare items of clothing, boots or small rucksacks you no longer use please could you bring them in. They will be useful for spares.

Sessions will be on Thursday afternoons and primarily on the school site.When safe to do so we will be able to visit Rushmere Country Park too. Another principle of Forest School is to have high adult ratios, even on our school site. The ratios enable children to be supported in their learning experience on a more individual basis. So if you can join us just once or more regularly and don’t mind joining in and getting muddy please sign below.