What is a Forest School?
“A Forest School is an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland.”

Forest School Leader Pack- Wales 2004.

A brief history of Forest Schools

• Forest schools originated in Sweden during the 1950’s as a way of teaching children about the environment.
• Adopted in Denmark as a response to the lack
  of establishments for early years provision.
• 1995 pioneered in the UK by Bridgwater College.

Who is it for?

• All ages and abilities.
• Toddler groups and parents.
• Nursery, primary, secondary and special schools.
• Teambuilding.
• Corporate events.

Why is it different?

• The use of a wild setting.
• Managed risks.
• Freedom to explore using multiple senses.
• Regular contact.
• High instructor to learner ratio.

Educational

• Learning can be linked to the National Curriculum.
• Age appropriate skills and experience.
• Learning and development through free play.
• Transferable skills and abilities.
• Inspires the joy of lifelong learning.
• Links to SEAL curriculum.

Psychological

• Dimensions of emotional literacy.
• Schemas.
• Learning styles.
• Multiple Intelligences.
• Self esteem.

Self Esteem

• Self image, perceptions of abilities, attributes, appearance that come from significant others.
• From interactions with significant others child forms impression of personal qualities which are admired and valued.
• The image of the ideal self.
• Self Esteem is seen as the distance between the two.

Why Forest School?

• Set realistic limits.
• Enforce rules consistently.
• Build trust.
• Develop respect and responsibility.

And Finally

• Creativity a definition.

“Imaginative activity fashioned so as to produce outcomes that are both original and of value.”

National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education (1999) All our futures: creativity,culture and education. London:DfEE