Forest School

Forest School at Old Hall

Forest School is a fun and unique form of outdoor learning. Activities are play-based and child-led, offering children the opportunities to explore the natural world through practical, sensory and hands-on experiences.

Children are encouraged to take risks and explore, within a safe outdoor space with support from trained Forest School leaders. Forest school leaders do not follow specific objectives, or stick to the national curriculum; rather they plan activities by observing children’s interests and actions during sessions and developing bespoke learning experiences that will motivate and encourage children to grown and learn.

Forest School provides a wealth of opportunities for children to develop a wide range of holistic skills, including;

Communication skills: The sensory experiences provided by Forest School’s helps prompt language development. Improving communication skills has a positive effect on a child’s self-esteem and is a crucial part of their development.

Social skills: Activities such as sharing tools and participating in play help teach the children to work together as a group, which strengthens their bonds and social ties.

Physical development: Both fine motor skills and gross motor skills are developed in the outdoor environment.

Emotional development: Forest School sessions help children to expand their emotional vocabulary and understand how they feel (emotional intelligence).

Confidence: Forest School helps children to grow in confidence as a result of the freedom, time and space they are given in their learning. This allows them to demonstrate independence at each individual child’s rate.

Spiritual development: This is not necessarily religious, but refers to having a sense of belonging to the wider world, being part of something bigger than yourself, and your connection to nature.

But most importantly Forest School learning is fun!