FOREST SCHOOL AT OAK GREEN SCHOOL

Why do we teach what we teach? (Our intent)

Oak Green School aims to use the natural outdoor woodland area to offer the children an insight into the Forest School ethos. This approach to outdoor learning encourages children to become independent, use their imagination, take appropriate risks within boundaries and initiate learning for themselves. Forest School is a holistic approach to learning, incorporating children’s individuality and develops their skills for lifelong learning. It can cover many areas of learning, including the emotional and spiritual aspects of learning where self-esteem and self-confidence can grow and positive relationships with peers can be formed.

Forest School explores the outdoors and the natural environment with practical, useful activities all year round. It develops peer learning with the adults providing support and enabling activities to take place. The child’s interest will be at the heart of any activity.

How do we teach it? (Our implementation)

Our Forest School sessions will be delivered by qualified Level 3 Forest School leaders. They deliver this program following the guidance set out in the Forest School Handbook. 

The Forest school learning environment provides opportunities for children to develop self-esteem, self-confidence, to form positive relationships with others, to develop a growing awareness of their emotional needs and the needs of others, to learn to cooperate and work with their peers and adults and to develop strategies in order to take risks within the boundaries of safety.   

Forest School is about exploring and experiencing the natural world through practical activities. The children go out in all weathers, all year round, exploring and learning from the seasons and environment changes. Encouraging children to care for the environment is an essential part of Forest School. In order to encourage the children to look after the site we will always leave it tidy and never damage anything growing in it. We will only collect things that are on the ground and leave the area as we found it when we leave. Some activities are: 

• Shelter / den building 
• Fire lighting and cooking 
• Tool use 
• Knot tying 
• Exploring 
• Woodland craft 
• Playing team games 

What is the difference that this makes? (Our impact)

Children are active, take ownership of their learning and develop their self-esteem through a variety of independent or group tasks and they take ownership of them. Children develop knowledge of respect for their learning environment and the outdoors as a whole. Children develop their teamwork skills and increase their capability to work together to solve problems in a variety of ways, taking into account one another’s ideas. Positive relationships are built through these sessions and children are both enabled and empowered to achieve their holistic potential.