At St Erth School, all children from year 2 are given the opportunity to experience Forest School. The sessions are led by Sarah and Peaira from Shifting Horizons CIC, our qualified Forest School leaders, who take the children in small groups to Godolphin Woods. We go out all year, regardless of the weather.
We use tools in a traditional woodland manner, which are introduced gradually with a structured safety base that children become familiar with. The use of tools promotes trust and self-confidence within those taking part; their use will develop both gross and fine motor skills.
A typical forest school session might include shelter building, woodland and traditional crafts, art and sculpture work, games, studying wildlife, fire lighting and cooking on an open fire. The sessions are great fun, loved by all the children. Forest school gives the children time to thoroughly explore their thoughts, feelings and relationships. This time and reflective practice develops understanding of the world, the environment and everything within it through the use of emotions, imagination and senses.
“A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning.”
The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences.
By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland environment, each participant has an opportunity to develop intrinsic motivation as well as sound emotional and social skills. These, through self-awareness, can be developed to reach personal potential.
Forest Schools has demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and who, through play, have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. Forest School programmes run throughout the year, going to the woods in all weathers (except for high winds). Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour, both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self-motivated.
So Forest Schools will aim to develop:
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Self-Awareness
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Self-Regulation
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Empathy
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Good social communication skills
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Independence
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A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence
