What is Forest School?
“Forest School is an inspirational process that offers children and young people opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self esteem, through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland environment.”
National definition: by Forest School (England) Network
Forest School is about children and young people building self esteem and independence through exploring and experiencing the natural world. Forest School is a long term programme delivered by trained practitioners within a natural environment (not necessarily a Forest). Each Forest School programme is tailored to meet the needs of individuals within that group and is continuously developed as the children/young people grow in confidence, skills and understanding.
The ethos of Forest School allows learners the time and space to develop skills, interests and understanding through practical, hands-on experiences. It also allows practitioners to step back and observe the children/young people in order to then encourage and inspire individuals to achieve through careful scaffolding and facilitating.
For more information about the Forest School process, and how it can be embedded within the school curriculum, please download our Forest School Guide for Practitioners here.
A Brief History of Forest School
The idea of Forest School originated in Scandinavia, where outdoor living and learning is totally embedded in society. There is a strong belief that nature and movement are essential to a child’s overall development and wellbeing. Most children, through their school years, spend one day per week engaged in learning activities outdoors, appreciating how to care and respect the environment while also looking after themselves and others. The current manifestation of Forest School originated in Sweden in the 1950’s when a retired solider started to teach children about the natural environment through stories, songs and practical hands on experiences. This idea was adopted by Denmark in the 1980’s as a solution to the lack of buildings available for the number of nursery places required. The philosophy of the Forest School was based upon the desire to provide young children with an education which encouraged appreciation of the wider, natural world and which would encourage responsibility for nature conservation in later life.
Forest School was introduced in the UK, in 1995 when a group of lecturers and nursery nurses from Bridgewater College, Somerset had visited a Danish Forest School. Children freely exploring their environment were seen to grow in confidence, take responsibility for their own learning and show a greater appreciation for the natural world in which they live. These practitioners were so impressed with this ethos/approach and its effect on children that they developed a programme. Forest School has been rapidly developing in the UK, where trained and accredited Forest School leaders devise a learning program tailored to children’s interests and individual needs. Children are allowed to work at their own pace and the repetitive nature and routine that is embedded allows the children to build their confidence and self-esteem. Research has also shown that children with emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties especially benefit from the Forest School approach.
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