At Rattlesden School our children benefit from Forest School provision. We have our own Forest School area plus a woodland walk and a wildflower meadow. We are surrounded by the inspiring natural beauty of the Suffolk countryside and work closely with the local community to utilise this exceptional resource.
‘A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning’ (Forest School website). It motivates and challenges children to explore and engage with the natural world within a woodland environment and encourages them to embrace and enjoy their climate. Our children learn through an enthusiasm for being outside, they enjoy being challenged and are encouraged to take managed risks, with the support of highly trained Forest School Leaders. We are very proud of our school grounds where the school team have developed a site that allows magical outdoor learning opportunities to happen.
Want to find out more..? Click Here!
Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intent
At Rattlesden Primary School we believe all children need to play, and need to access and experience the outdoors. Pupils should be exposed to controlled risk and the reality of the natural world. Pupils should experience a healthy range of emotions, through all the challenges of social interaction, to build a resilience that will enable continued and creative engagement with their potential, their peers and their environment. They need to develop emotional literacy to enable them to cope with the pressures of the modern world. We believe that this can be achieved through regular Forest School sessions.
Forest School is a unique educational experience that offers children the opportunity to succeed and develop confidence and hands on learning experiences in a natural environment. Our sessions always have aims and objectives based on engagement, behaviour, social interaction and enjoyment and encourage independent learning as well as the intention to foster a love of the outdoor environment. We aim for children to be knowledgeable about the natural world around them and to develop a deep-rooted love and respect for nature.
Implementation
Forest School sessions are led by teachers who hold a Level 3 Forest School Leaders qualification. They are supported by teaching assistants, 1 of whom is trained at Level 1, and volunteer helpers. Currently EYFS, Year 4 and 5 children have weekly Forest School sessions.
Throughout the year we plan to explore our environment and recognise the different seasons and the changes they bring. Within the different seasons different activities will be organised to support the pupils learning and enjoyment of the outside. Through these tasks we aim to develop independent learners, who have the confidence to try new ideas and explore their own interests. Children engage, in motivating and achievable tasks and activities throughout the year and in almost all weathers. Children will work with tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour, both physical and social, grow in confidence, self-esteem and motivation whilst developing an understanding of the natural world. They will develop oracy through learning new vocabulary, listening to and telling stories as well as taking about their experiences. Children’s health will be improved from being outdoors and they will develop physical strength and dexterity which will give long lasting benefits.
Forest school gives children the chance to lead their own learning and pursue their own interests. Leaders encourage children to take the initiative and to learn to manage risk themselves, developing a sense of responsibility. Children will experience achievement and success which leads to greater motivation and concentration. Children are given time to process learning and space to be themselves.
Safety is paramount and leaders will have this at the heart of what they do, leaders have current First Aid training and thoroughly risk assess each activity. When using tools or undertaking risky activities, children are treated as individuals. This means some may be ready to participate in these activities sooner than others. We ask that children are dressed appropriately for being outside in all weather conditions. Even in hot weather limbs must be covered and sturdy footwear worn. Children will get muddy so waterproof wear is advisable.
The types of activities children will experience include:
Impact
Children grow in confidence as a result of the freedom, time and space they are given. Learning at their own pace and following their own agenda, they are able to develop independence. The children are able to understand, assess and manage their own risk and safety. This allows children to become more independent and teaches them that life comes with not only risk but also reward. Children discover that sometimes we don’t always achieve the desired result first time but that this does not mean they are a failure nor that the task is impossible. Children learn to become resilient problem solvers who can think logically, self- reflect and evaluate their efforts.
Children develop a love of the great outdoors and develop a respect for the natural world around them. They become knowledgeable about the flora and fauna that can be found within the school grounds and in their local environment. They understand seasonal change and the impact of humans on the environment.
The hands-on experiences provided within Forest School help to support language development. Children’s vocabulary is enriched through their experiences and they become better communicators.
Children have the opportunity to stretch themselves physically, supporting their overall physical health. Being outside and having their own time away from the demands of the classroom and modern society supports children mental well-being.
‘A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning’ (Forest School website). It motivates and challenges children to explore and engage with the natural world within a woodland environment and encourages them to embrace and enjoy their climate. Our children learn through an enthusiasm for being outside, they enjoy being challenged and are encouraged to take managed risks, with the support of highly trained Forest School Leaders. We are very proud of our school grounds where the school team have developed a site that allows magical outdoor learning opportunities to happen.
Want to find out more..? Click Here!
Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intent
At Rattlesden Primary School we believe all children need to play, and need to access and experience the outdoors. Pupils should be exposed to controlled risk and the reality of the natural world. Pupils should experience a healthy range of emotions, through all the challenges of social interaction, to build a resilience that will enable continued and creative engagement with their potential, their peers and their environment. They need to develop emotional literacy to enable them to cope with the pressures of the modern world. We believe that this can be achieved through regular Forest School sessions.
Forest School is a unique educational experience that offers children the opportunity to succeed and develop confidence and hands on learning experiences in a natural environment. Our sessions always have aims and objectives based on engagement, behaviour, social interaction and enjoyment and encourage independent learning as well as the intention to foster a love of the outdoor environment. We aim for children to be knowledgeable about the natural world around them and to develop a deep-rooted love and respect for nature.
Implementation
Forest School sessions are led by teachers who hold a Level 3 Forest School Leaders qualification. They are supported by teaching assistants, 1 of whom is trained at Level 1, and volunteer helpers. Currently EYFS, Year 4 and 5 children have weekly Forest School sessions.
Throughout the year we plan to explore our environment and recognise the different seasons and the changes they bring. Within the different seasons different activities will be organised to support the pupils learning and enjoyment of the outside. Through these tasks we aim to develop independent learners, who have the confidence to try new ideas and explore their own interests. Children engage, in motivating and achievable tasks and activities throughout the year and in almost all weathers. Children will work with tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour, both physical and social, grow in confidence, self-esteem and motivation whilst developing an understanding of the natural world. They will develop oracy through learning new vocabulary, listening to and telling stories as well as taking about their experiences. Children’s health will be improved from being outdoors and they will develop physical strength and dexterity which will give long lasting benefits.
Forest school gives children the chance to lead their own learning and pursue their own interests. Leaders encourage children to take the initiative and to learn to manage risk themselves, developing a sense of responsibility. Children will experience achievement and success which leads to greater motivation and concentration. Children are given time to process learning and space to be themselves.
Safety is paramount and leaders will have this at the heart of what they do, leaders have current First Aid training and thoroughly risk assess each activity. When using tools or undertaking risky activities, children are treated as individuals. This means some may be ready to participate in these activities sooner than others. We ask that children are dressed appropriately for being outside in all weather conditions. Even in hot weather limbs must be covered and sturdy footwear worn. Children will get muddy so waterproof wear is advisable.
The types of activities children will experience include:
- Shelter building
- Stories and drama
- Muddy play
- Water play
- Shelter building
- Fire lighting and campfire cooking
- Using tools such as a saw, axe, peeler, knife
- Mini beast hunts
- Scavenger hunt
- Team building games
- Tracking games
- Woodland craft
- Nature exploration
- Rope work
Impact
Children grow in confidence as a result of the freedom, time and space they are given. Learning at their own pace and following their own agenda, they are able to develop independence. The children are able to understand, assess and manage their own risk and safety. This allows children to become more independent and teaches them that life comes with not only risk but also reward. Children discover that sometimes we don’t always achieve the desired result first time but that this does not mean they are a failure nor that the task is impossible. Children learn to become resilient problem solvers who can think logically, self- reflect and evaluate their efforts.
Children develop a love of the great outdoors and develop a respect for the natural world around them. They become knowledgeable about the flora and fauna that can be found within the school grounds and in their local environment. They understand seasonal change and the impact of humans on the environment.
The hands-on experiences provided within Forest School help to support language development. Children’s vocabulary is enriched through their experiences and they become better communicators.
Children have the opportunity to stretch themselves physically, supporting their overall physical health. Being outside and having their own time away from the demands of the classroom and modern society supports children mental well-being.
|
|
|
|
|
