What is Forest School?

Forest Schools are long term, holistic focused, child centred learning programmes facilitated in a natural setting. Our sessions offer children opportunities they are otherwise unable to experience in the classroom. The forest school programme, supports the children to grow, socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually. As a child’s confidence increases, it provides further scaffolding for a child’s communication skills to increase, therefore having a positive impact on a child’s language and literacy ability.

These supported risk-taking sessions, allow the child to explore, and learn through play and discovery, by regularly having access to the Forest school’s programme. Risk is not just related to the physical form, but also mentally, socially and verbally. Therefore, a qualified Forest school practitioner will support all the children in accessing the programme. The practitioner and staff act as facilitators. This ensures that the Child Led sessions are risk appropriate and through constant observation, monitoring, reflection, reviewing and adjusting, practitioners provide opportunities and experiences that maximise a positive outcome for all involved.

By adhering to the principles of Forest school, children become more independent, self-esteem, resilience and confidence are increased. Creativity is maximised as is the fostering of a healthy mind and body encouraged. Children feel more connected to the outside world and have a greater understanding of the necessity to protect and have pride in their natural environments and the greater world.

The main aims of Monyash Forest School are:

• To promote children’s self-esteem and confidence using the Forest School area.
• To experience the outdoor environment in order to learn from and promote the different learning styles of each individual.
• To developing a relationship with our natural environment and adopt guardianship and responsibility of our woodland and the extended world.
• To foster independent, resilient, creative learners.

Where?

The Dioceses has kindly offered a site for our Forest School sessions and we have been fortunate that, Reverend Adele and Curate Lisa, have both been able to visit us during our sessions.  At present, our Forest School sessions take place at the Monyash Church, Woodland area on Wednesday afternoons. The Forest school practitioner for these sessions is Mrs Harris, who is fully qualified and holds Paediatric Firest Aid. At least 2 other members of staff attend each session and these members of staff are also fully qualified first aiders and enhanced DBS checked. Any visitors that are planned to attend a session are fully checked for enhanced DBS.