Forest School

Intent

At Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, we recognise the importance of all children having the opportunity to spend time in the outdoor environment and experience the positive impact this can have on both their physical and mental health. All children in the school will have regular Forest School sessions throughout the year allowing them to build an appreciation for and develop respect and understanding for the natural world. We aim for children to develop knowledge of their local environment and the positive and negative impact their actions can have on the world around them. 

Forest School sessions offer lots of opportunities to our learners. By following a progressive, skills-based Forest School curriculum, we ensure our children all have opportunities to learn and practise lifelong practical skills such as tool use and fire safety. Sessions also offers opportunities to build character and embed school values (courage, confidence, respect & belonging) in a real-life context. At Forest School, we embrace and encourage independent learners and inspire them to try their own ideas, explore their own interests and direct their own learning.  Forest School sessions at Hoo are also planned with the wider school curriculum in mind, offering our children the opportunity to expand their in-class learning and aid retrieval through fun and engaging learning experiences. Our learners also have opportunities to identify risk and managing their own personal safety, giving them vital skills for later life.  Equally importantly, Forest School gives our children opportunities to have lots of fun and enjoy their time at Hoo St Werburgh. 

Implementation

• All children in the school will have regular Forest School sessions throughout the year in all seasons and weathers. These sessions are a minimum of 1hr 30 minutes each. 
• Forest School sessions take place in our dedicated Forest School space on our school grounds, which has developed to be an exciting, engaging and safe space that is sustainably managed and encourages wildlife. 
• Sessions are led by a skilled, experienced level 3 Forest School practitioner, who engages in regular CPD to maintain and build on best professional practice.
• Forest school sessions have a regular routine to help children to regulate and know what to expect. 
• Forest school has a set of unique rules, which are adhered to by all participants, designed to keep everyone safe. 
• All children to have access to suitable kit to ensure Forest School is inclusive for all pupils (this includes welly boots / waterproofs / sun hats / sun cream / gloves etc). 
• Sessions are planned to follow a progressive skills-based Forest School curriculum with planning linked to this.
• Sessions are planned to help support the wider school curriculum where possible with planning linked to HCC & school values.
• Learning is recorded through photos and pupil voice. Photos are uploaded to ‘Evidence Me’ with links to national curriculum recorded. 
• All sessions are fully risk assessed to ensure children are safeguarded.
• There is a higher than usual staff to pupil ratio at Forest School. Staff are there to offer support when needed but are not afraid to stand back and allow independent play to take place. Adults encourage risky play whilst ensuring safety guidelines are followed. Children are encouraged to solve problems for themselves and work collaborativ with                their peers.
• The outdoor environment naturally offers an environment that is informal, challenging, unpredictable and stimulating, which naturally encourages curiosity and use of all of the senses to explore.
• At Forest School, time is given to explore thoughts, feelings and relationships, and children are encouraged to understand, appreciate, and care for each other. 
• At Forest School opportunities are provided to take risks, make choices, problem solve, develop practical skills and become confident and capable learners by giving the children challenging, but achievable tasks, and the time to reflect on this.
• At Forest school learning is linked to our school values (courage, confidence, respect & belonging). 

Impact

• By taking part in regular Forest School sessions: 
• Children are motivated to come to school and enjoy school. 
• Children will appreciate and respect the natural world and have a good understanding of how the natural world works. 
• Children will understand the positive and negative impact they can have on the natural world and will have respect for the natural world. 
• Children are confident with a range of life skills such as safe tool use, fire safety ability to assess risk. 
• Children are independent and confident in their own abilities. 
• Children have good mental health, with a strong sense of happiness and a positive emotional wellbeing. 
• Children have well developed social skills such as problem solving, communication and sharing skills.
• Children have well developed physical skills such as fine and gross motor skills, movement, physical strength and stamina.
• Children are ready to lead a healthy lifestyle with a love of being outdoors and being active. 
• Children have strong speaking and listening skills developed through lots of sensory experiences. 
• Children are more self-motivated, resilient, confident and empathetic learners. 
• Children are motivated by the enhancement Forest School provides for the wider curriculum and excited to continue to learn back in class. 
• School values become embedded in children as they have lots of opportunity to practise them in a real-life context.