Forest School
Our Forest School vision
“Our aspirations are our possibilities – believe you can and you will!”
To deliver a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth. To develop confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired hands-on experiences in a natural setting.
Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.
“Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.” Forest School Association
Our Forest School objectives
- To develop social, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional and spiritual skills.
- To help develop all of the character virtues of each child with a particular focus on resilience as well as learner skills with a particular focus on collaboration.
Our Forest School approach
Children at Goldsmith Primary Academy work hard every day in their classroom but we promote working outside it too. One of the additional learning opportunities takes place during their Forest School Sessions. We not only want to build up our children’s understanding of education but also develop their interests for the natural world around them.
Learning outside is a great way of building the children up in all areas of themselves: from social interactions to wellbeing and self-esteem and allowing them to display their creativity; enthused by the connection with nature. The children dictate, through their own interests, how the sessions flow. This may start with den building and end with finding a variety of mini-beasts within our forest.
What children learn in Forest School
- Safety in the Forest
- Den Building
- Craft Making (Tool work)
- Reconnecting with Nature
- Science in the Forest (creation of fire)
How does Forest School support children's development?
We strongly believe that the confidence the children gain encourages positive behaviour, which is carried back to their indoor classroom learning.
The risk-benefit allows the children to step out of their comfort zone and try something they are unsure of in a safe and controlled manner, such as tool work or fire lighting. The findings they make about themselves develop their character as well as their learner skills.
How do we assess children in Forest School?
Assessment for Learning is used as well as observations to adapt sessions during the child-led activities.