How our Forest School sessions aligns with our school aims and values:

Global and local citizenship - We want our learners to understand the importance to the natural world and have the courage to explore different natural habitats. 

Develop Resilient Learners: We want our learners to be inspired by the natural world, learn new skills, to challenge adversity and overcome challenges. 

Communication: We want our learners to feel confident and comfortable when talking to others in a group or in a 1 to 1 situation and put forward their thoughts and ideas effectively. 

Aim high: We want our Forest School sessions to inspire learners to take on new endeavours and encourage a wide range of aspirations.

Timetable expectations 

Forest School sessions are taught in blocks to each year group every wednesday. 

The timetable is set out here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-4eooYKjGMgw2JK-YDZCXSdZaYtdQX0yBmWZCiN93I/edit?usp=sharing

In every Forest School session at Wenhaston you will see links to the 6 principles of Forest School: 

1. Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.

2. Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world.

3. Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.

4. Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.

5. Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.

6. Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice

Recording and Marking 

Children are observed in sessions and findings are used to plan the next sessions. 

Resources needed

Forest school resources are stored in the PE Cupboard in the playground. They consist of the following: 

• Tarpaulins 

• Ropes and ties 

• Fire safety equipment 

• Tinder

• Logs and wood 

• Wool for natural crafts 

• Wooden figures

• Tools - knives, loppers, saws and gimlets

• Gloves 

• Fire equipment 

• Buckets

• Natural materials 

• Hammocks 

• First Aid kit (kept in staff room) 

• Burns Kit  (Kept in Staff room) 

Other resources are found on the school grounds such as: 

• Fire pit and fire circle 

• Outdoor classroom 

• Pond/nature area

• Bug hotels and bird feeders

Texts Resources

Childrens Forest - Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson and Helen D Ascoli 

Play the Forest School Way 

Forest Craft 

Forest Woodcraft 

Teaching sequence in every class: 

The Forest School curriculum follows the patterns of the seasons and seasonal festivals and stories linking to many different cultures and beliefs. 

Sessions are child led and child centred with planned activities and games linked to the seasons. 

Forest school sessions link to the 6 principles of Forest School, following the Forest School ethos. More information can be found on the Forest School Association website. 

https://forestschoolassociation.org/what-is-forest-school/

Assessment and monitoring: 

Observations are made of the children through photographs and notes at each session.