“Forest School is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners (and the facilitators) regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem, through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.
Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within, and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.
This learner-centred approach interweaves with the ever-changing moods and marvels potential and challenges of the natural world through the seasons, to fill every Forest School session and programme with discovery and difference. Yet each programme also shares a common set of principles, aimed at ensuring all learners experience the cumulative and lasting benefits that quality Forest School offers.”
Click here to find out more…
What does Forest school look like in practice? Its not like school…
We all need to play and we are nature!– play is innate and teaches us so much about ourselves, and the world around us. Forest school builds a sense of belonging and community. Not just with other children and adults but also with the natural world.
Building a sense of awe and wonder builds a curiosity to learn. Forest School is a place where the learner decides on what they would like to learn, try and explore. The learning is holistic and if you observe a session you might see the learners climbing, building, crafting, Checking out the field guides, cooking on campfires, watching the clouds, hanging in hammocks, swinging from the trees, listening or telling stories and many other nature based skills.
Learning to ‘facilitate’ rather than teach is a powerful and wonderful experience. Its incredible what we learn from observing, noticing and stepping into the learners shoes.
How does Forest School do this?
The 6 principles of Forest School (FS)
1- FS is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a one-off event or
infrequent visits to a local outdoor space. The cycle of planning, observation, adaptation
and review link each session to the next.
2- FS takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a
relationship between the learner and the natural world.
3- FS uses a range of learner-centered processes to create a community for being,
developing and learning.
4- FS aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved; fostering resilient,
confident, independent and creative learners.
5- FS offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the
environment and to themselves.
6- FS is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and
develop their professional practice.
This ethos creates learning communities where deep-level learning and progression are
the norm.
Kinda Forest School 