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.
It is a specialised learning approach that sits within and complements the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.
Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions: the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning.
Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
Our Forest School takes place Friday afternoons throughout the year at Wookie Wood in Pebmarsh. The children are transported to the woods by the Forest School Leaders and attend for a minimum of 6 weeks with their peers within their year group. Alicia Wagtail and Heather Hare are both staff members of St John the Baptist Primary School and are fully qualified Forest School Leaders, each holding an Outdoor Paediatric First Aid Certificate.
Our Forest School has an overall risk assessment with the site assessed for safety before each session. Each of our activities also has its own risk assessment.
The adult to child ratio is high enough to ensure children are supervised without being swamped.