What Is Forest School?

The probable question on your lips, after hearing my stories and a small insight into Forest School with the intention to help decode its elements for you, is what I’m going to answer right now !

What is Forest School?

Allow me to explain!

So my official nutshell definition that I often say is that Forest School is a child led, nature based approach to learning that focuses on developing the whole child. As part of this it allows children to develop inter and intra personal skills, an understanding of nature and learn how to manage risk appropriately through play and specific outdoor activities.

So what does this exactly mean, well let’s break down each element;

Child led means that the learning for that day is decided and carried out by the children and always through the medium of play.

Nature based means that it is preferably done in a natural space like a woodland or forest but at the very least in an outdoor space.

Approach to learning means that it is one way for children to learn new knowledge, skills, habits and beliefs.

Focuses on developing the whole child means working on skills and understanding that make up a human being which are social, physical, intellectual, communication, emotional and spiritual elements.

Develop inter and intra personal skills means those traits and abilities that are linked to social interaction and internal feelings such as confidence, resilience, self regulation, etc.

An understanding of nature means that they appreciate how nature works to help and sustain human life and how we can preserve and look after it whilst alos having so much fun within it.

And finally, learning how to manage risk appropriately means to understand what may hurt them and be able to put in place things that will lessen the chance of this happening whilst at the same time enjoying the thrill the risk can present and learn from it’s trappings.

All put together Forest school seeks to provide children with the skills and understanding so that they have the ability to become capable and personally sustainable individuals.

Simply put it creates a child that is capable of succeeding at life and looking after themselves and the world around them. That is pretty much the aim and driving force of all Forest Schools from my perspective.

Don’t forget your’e just one session away.