Forest School
Click to view our presentation about Forest School

At the beginning of the Autumn Term 2008 an exciting new element was introduced to the Infant Department curriculum, namely Forest School.

The aim of Forest School is to encourage and inspire children through positive outdoor experiences. Children are given the opportunity to play and explore freely and creatively with the outdoor elements of earth, water, air and with adult supervision, fire. They become aware of the changing seasons, the effects of weather, animals and plants in their varying habitats and the beauty and wonder of Nature.

Another very important aspect of Forest School is the opportunity it gives children to learn about risks. Life is full of risks, some safer than others. Children learn to feel what it’s like to take a risk and understand how to judge a risk for him/her self.

On a weekly basis small groups of children (ranging from 4 -7 years old) are taken up to a woodland situated on the Blackdown Hills, where they spend either the whole morning or afternoon being active and creative. Waterproofs kindly donated by the FOWS enable the children to go irrespective of the weather. After all jumping in puddles and squelching in mud is what it’s all about.

So far activities have ranged from playing Hide and Seek, creating a blind-fold adventure trail, making a shelter for a Gruffalo and making a hedgehog out of mud and sticks. Children are also gradually introduced to using tools such as potato peelers, hack saws, knives and bow saws. They use these tools with adult supervision to create a range of things such as flag posts, whistles and wooden bead necklaces. An important part of each session is snack time when the children sit around the camp fire discussing what they have been doing whilst drinking hot chocolate and having a biscuit, or two! It makes fascinating listening.

During half term a working party of staff and family built a Round House shelter for the children to work under when it gets really cold and wet. Future projects are to build a fire pit, underground oven and a compost toilet. Exciting times are ahead.