Forest Schools
In response to feedback from parents through our School Improvement Questionnaire, we are delighted to announce that we now have regular Forest Schools here on the Brockwell Infant site. We use the top triangular area of our school field for this purpose.
Helen Pantry, who is experienced in running Forest Schools, leads the programme for us.
All children have access to Forest School on a rolling programme over the school year. The children are be able to discover a wide range of different and new activities including using tools and fire lighting. They learn to manage their own risk and those of their friends whilst having fun. Children have the opportunity to learn new skills and expand their knowledge of the natural world whilst boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping them to develop good social skills in an outdoor environment.
The forest school is based at the school using the field and outdoor area. The area in the corner is not an area that the children normally access so this adds to the feeling of a special place. A circle area with seating has been created to form a central focal point. This is particularly good for the beginning and end of each session and allows for use of fire making in a clear safe area for children.
Activities include:-
- Den building
- Fire Lighting and campfire cooking
- Leaf bashing
- Clay/mud sculpture
- Wildlife and mini beast hunts
- Tree faces
- Woodland name tags
- Woodland whistles
- Rain chains
- Woodland crowns
Sessions are tailored to fit in with the National Curriculum and run alongside classroom topics, season and special celebrations. However children’s interests and choices form a large part of the sessions. Each session includes a period of free play allowing the children to explore their own choice of activity and interests. Sessions end with a period of reflection where the children are encouraged to talk about their forest school experience and to make plans for the following week.
Forest School
