Forest School

What is Forest School?

The concept of Forest School in Britain is based on a Scandinavian idea that begun in the 1950’s which focused on children learning about the natural world from a very young age through activities based in the outdoor environment all year round.

This idea was brought to the UK in the mid 1990’s following a visit by nursery nurses and early years representatives to Denmark. They found the effects had a significant impact on the children’s behaviour, confidence, concentration, self-esteem, and health. The idea was then developed in this country with many early year’s professionals, teachers and youth workers undergoing quality training and then reaping the benefits with their own children. 

Who will supervise the children and where?

Forest School sessions are planned and led by qualified level 3 Forest School leaders, who also hold an outdoor first aid certificate for Forest School leaders, and will have carried out a full risk assessment of the site/activities/weather conditions. Along with the Forest school leader, there will be an assistant who will be there to assist the leader and the children.

At Peter Pan Nursery, Miss Lewis and Miss Gamble are our qualified Forest school leaders . We use two areas on the common in the woodland around our nursery, which allows for sustainability of the sites and the natural resources. 

Children begin their forest school journey within the nursery setting , participating in activities with natural resources and becoming familiar with the natural environment  and wildlife that surrounds our setting . In the summer term of their first year with us they go out into the woodland for mini forest school sessions with some of the older children and the forest school practitioners. The older children act as mentors showing them what forest school is all about.  Then in the Autumn term of their second year with us ( the year before they go to school) one of their nursery sessions becomes their forest school day . On this day they will go out into the woodland that surrounds us with a Forest School leader and an assistant in groups of between 5 and 8 for blocks of between 5 and 7 weeks each half term. They will spend the morning out in the woods participating in activities  and free play in the woodland environment and following the forest school ethos, returning to nursery for lunch. In the Summer term at the end of this year they will take their lunch out for some of their sessions allowing longer for their explorations. At the end of their time with us we hold a celebration session which parents are invited to join.

The Type of activities

All sessions have an invisible ‘structure’, which our experienced leaders have identified key skills that the children will learn and experience over the course of the year.  

The children will engage in a group activity which will start to encourage them to move on to choose and play for themselves within the environment. Some activities might include digging, jumping in mud & puddles, bug hunting, den building, treasure hunts, games, art and craft activities, using a variety of tools for a purpose, cutting and carving wood, watching the adults cooking on a fire. As they grow in confidence and experience, they will begin to be able to cook for themselves a variety of food over the fire including the favourite marshmallows, toast, sausages, and many more exciting things .

By attending Forest School for the whole year, the children get to experience the differing seasons enabling children to see and feel the changes each season brings. When we experience a heavy rainfall the cause and effect this has with our ‘Island’ site is fascinating as the water levels rise. The changing look and feel of the woodland in the Autumn and Winter months to that of the Spring and Summer is fabulous. So much to see and learn!

We are so lucky that within our local environment we have ponds which are home to a variety of insects and the great crested newts. We have a variety of leaves and grasses that can be collected, dried, and used with our fire lighting.  We regularly see ducks, deer, squirrels, foxes, pheasants, and many other different birds – including our favourite – Mr Robin.

 Parents will be invited to attend an information session where you will see the sites and receive more information about what your child needs to bring and wear for the sessions.   The cost of Forest school at Peter Pan is included in the parental contribution charge detailed on our fees page.

For more information about the Forest School ethos visit The Forest School Association’s (FSA) website http://www.forestschoolassociation.org/

On the FSA website you can also read about the 6 leading principles for good quality Forest School practice which can be found on the link below:

http://www.forestschoolassociation.org/full-principles-and-criteria-for-good-practice/

Finally, for anyone interested in Forest School qualification training you can find information on the FSA website and also on the Surrey Wildlife Trust Site below

www.surreywildlifetrust.org/what-we-do/outdoor-learning/forest-school-and-outdoor-learning-training-courses