Flowery Field Primary School – Forest School Threshold Concept Progression Forest School Principles • • • • •
Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations, and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School. Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world. 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.
Forest School (and other outdoor learning opportunities) should enable children to develop their personal qualities including, responsibility, resilience, independence, curiosity, respect, and honesty. It will do this through progressively more challenging outdoor activities based around, but not limited to, tool work, fire safety and fire lighting, den building and knot/lashing skills. The primary aims of Forest School are: To build self-esteem and confidence in children. To build resilient, determined, and independent learners To develop children’s personal, social, and emotional development. To develop children’s and encourage creativity To encourage collaboration. To develop and build the ideas of risk management and risk benefit To improve children’s life skills and experiences To instil and develop a love of, and respect for, the natural world including all living things