Forest School
Throughout the year different groups from the Early Years and Year 1 classess will have the opportunity to experience Forest School. Tadpoles will go fortnightly on a Tuesday for the whole year, developing experiences in different seasons. On a Wednesday afternoon Squirrels and Hedgehogs are going to have a short top up Forest School programme in term 1 and 2, to build on their experiences from their sessions in Reception . We are also excited to get Ducklings out for regular weekly sessions in term 1 & 2 on a Wednesday morning. Starting in term 3 Dragonflies and Frogs will start their Wednesday Forest School programme. Your class teachers will tell you which weeks your child will be going so they can be all ready for some fun!
On the days your child goes to Forest school, they will need to bring in a named Forest School kit.
Clothing for your child
Making sure we are comfortable and warm at Forest School is important for us to enjoy ourselves, so the right clothing is super important. There is a list below of what your child should wear and the video in this link is really helpful too Layering video | Outdoor clothing | Muddy Faces
The following clothing is recommended:
| Winter (In the UK that’s normally Autumn and Spring too!) | Summer |
|
Vest or T-shirt |
Long sleeved t- shirt |
| Long sleeved top | Sweatshirt/thin jumper |
| Hooded top / fleece or thick jumper | Long trousers (tracksuit trousers are good, not too thin like leggings) |
| Thick socks (or two pairs of normal ones) | Socks |
| Trousers with tights or leggings underneath | Welly boots |
| Wellington boots/sturdy waterproof boots | Thin waterproof coat |
| Hat, gloves and scarf | Sunhat |
| Warm jacket |
In school we have waterproof trousers they can borrow or they can bring their own. We also have some waterproof coats. In the Winter it can also get very muddy and so do the children! We encourage the children to enjoy exploring this as a sensory experience but they can borrow a waterproof coat to protect their own. In the summer we are protecting them from scratching plants and insect bites so covering their arms and legs with long sleeved tops and trousers is good. If the trousers are too thin, like leggings, this won't protect them.
If you have any questions about Forest School please speak with your child's class teacher.
We Need YOU!
Parent helpers are essential at Forest School to allow us to provide top quality experiences. You get the opportunity to be outdoors and really see the magic that happens when the children are given the freedom to play and connect with our natural world. If you can help for a session then please do let your class teacher know and we look forward to you becoming part of our Forest School community :)
WHY OUTDOORS IN ALL WEATHERS?
Outdoor play is so important all year round, but can seem a bit daunting when we start to move into the chillier months! There are so many benefits to everyone’s well being, both physical and emotional, by being outdoors. Different weather conditions and seasonal changes allow for many different ways of playing and you can see children approaching Forest School in entirely different ways, even on different days. Play in the summer months can be more contemplative and investigative and then come the colder weather you notice a shift to being more physical and creative. More challenging weather such as cold, wet and even heat, instead of being looked upon with apprehension should be looked upon as a new opportunity to explore the outdoors in a different way.
The added bonus is that children who play in all weather conditions are more:
• Positive
• Resilient
• Creative
• Adaptable
And they are more aware of their natural surroundings and in tune with seasonal changes. Children who have these abilities are able to rise to the challenges that they may come across in their future life. With none of the challenges or risks that Forest School can present, children do not develop these skills and their well-being can be seriously affected.
So, the simple advice is let your children play outside in all weathers and see these benefits too!...
Fresh air helps improve mood, sleep patterns and boost children's immune systems.
Burning off excess energy and getting exercise, which is brilliant for health, wellbeing and learning too.
A greater understanding and appreciation of the world around them.
Nature can have a calming and relaxing effect on both body and mind (this works for adults too!!!)
9th July 2025- Find out what a session looks like for one of our Reception groups
This group have been out for 12 Forest School sessions and before this most had been out for regular sessions when in the Nursery class. You can tell they are experienced Forest Schoolers who are very comfortable in this natural woodland space with lots of ideas about what they want to challenge themselves with; learn and explore. The children are trusted make their own choices and they really thrive with this autonomy. Here is a list of all the activities and experiences that they took part in today:
- Making sparks with Fire Steels and getting ready for the fire we will have next week
- Climbing the ladder all the way to the top and jumping off. Climbing in trees and working out how to to get up and down again.
- Balancing on the fantastic new logs, even if they are wobbly, and then jumping off. Setting up different courses to follow and challenge themselves. Making a see saw and problem solving how to get it to work best
- Building pretend fires and cooking marvellous feasts. Other imaginary games with their friends and small world play in the Mini Woodland with the stick people. At one point we had a herd of stick horses gallop through with their riders.
- Mud play, where mixing and experimenting combine with imaginary play. They also mixed up mud paints and painted the big sheet of material, squashing up blackberries to make a fantastic colour!
- Constructing and building dens where they need to communicate with their friends and problem solve exactly what sticks work and where to put them.
The children had a snack, where we could practice keeping safe around the fire and then they are happy to help tidy up and play a game.