Forest School enables our children to develop an inquisitive and positive relationship with the natural world. The Forest School approach to learning can be summarised as one, which puts the child at the centre of their own learning. Forest School is based on a fundamental respect for children and young people, and for their capacity to instigate, test and maintain curiosity in the world around them.

Forest School offers a unique educational experience and process that provides our children with the opportunities to thrive and develop; our children are stimulated by the outdoors and typically experience, over time, an increase in their self-belief, confidence, learning capacity, enthusiasm, communication and problem-solving skills and emotional well-being.

Forest School promotes positive learning behaviours and attitudes, which enables our children to become resilient and independent learners, helping them to grow as individuals.

The benefits of attending Forest School are many and far-reaching, but also difficult to measure. Below we list some, but by no means all, of the benefits of Forest School on various aspects of a child’s life or development.

Forest School encourages children to:

• Develop personal and social skills
• Work through practical problems and challenges
• Use tools to create, build or manage
• Discover how they learn best
• Pursue knowledge that interests them
• Learn how to manage failures
• Build confidence in decision making and evaluating risk
• Develop practical skills
• Understand the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle
• Explore connections between humans, wildlife and the earth
• Regularly experience achievement and success
• Reflect on learning and experiences
• Develop their language and communication skills
• Improve physical motor skills
• Become more motivated
• Improve their concentration skills
• Improve their communication and explore the world through all the senses available to them

Forest School can also:

• Develop physical abilities and help participants to stay active and healthy.
• Heighten self-awareness and improve emotional and social skills.
• Promote co-operative and group working.
• Encourage participants to take care of themselves and others.
• Foster care, appreciation and respect for wildlife and wild places.
• Broaden knowledge and understanding of the natural world.