St George's Church of England School, Bourton

Forest School

We embrace the Forest Schools ethos at St George’s School. We want our children to have opportunities to develop and thrive alongside their formal classroom education.  As part of our commitment to providing all children with a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum every child at St. George’s School will benefit from participating in weekly session of Forest School/outdoor learning led by our Forest School Leader Mrs Harding. 

Forest School is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees’.

(Forest School Association)

 Forest School is an excellent way to develop the children’s self-esteem, confidence, independence and their understanding and respect for their outside environment. Forest School is an opportunity for the children to experience nature and the outdoor environment in a safe, secure and hands on way. 

Children are given the opportunity to use a wide range of resources/tools both natural and man-made. Although our Forest School leader will plan a bespoke program of activities for the school, we aim to encourage children’s independence and confidence in a safe and inclusive environment. 

The Forest School approach was first used in Scandinavia, and is still today. Often, a ‘true’ Forest School will not have any formal buildings – all learning is done outside, whatever the weather, and everything is seen as a learning opportunity. The ethos allows children to learn life skills, such as communication, risk awareness, trust and teamwork, as well as developing the values that we hold at the core of St George’s School – Perseverance, Kindness and Thankfulness. 

Children have the time to explore the outdoor environment in a safe way, while working alongside staff who will facilitate opportunities to ensure that the children benefit from the activities on offer.

Activities can include:

  1. den building
  2. tool use
  3. fire use
  4. fire lighting
  5. tree climbing
  6. games and songs
  7. stories
  8. art using natural materials

 

Forest School provides children with the opportunities to:

- see, explore and experience the natural world through all four seasons

- work together

- develop communication and language skills

- be creative

- develop gross and fine motor skills

- learn about being safe when near a fire or handling tools

- build their self-esteem

- develop independence

- develop respect and a love of our plants, trees and animals

- take risks

We are fortunate to have a wooded area within our school grounds which has a garden area, den building area, mud kitchen and mud bath and a fire pit with shelter and seating.  

The photos below show a few of the things we have been up to at Forest School recently...