About Forest School

Christ Church is committed to giving children the opportunity to learn in the outdoor environment. We believe that taking learning outside is good for promoting children's self esteem, well being, behaviour, co-operative learning and problem solving. These skills feed back positively into
classroom work and other settings. 

We run the Forest School Programme which builds on the natural instinct to learn and explore that everybody is born with. It offers opportunities for children to make choices for their own learning and take and manage risks. Development of these skills encourages positive attitudes and behaviour. 

The sessions are not activity based but instead are led by the interests of the learners. Children may enjoy such experiences as building shelters, woodland craft-work, telling stories, cooking over fires, climbing trees, hunting for mini-beasts and making mud pies. As the programme develops woodland tools are introduced to extend learning and provide new opportunities for risk management.

The concept was developed in Scandinavia, and operates on the principle that children of all ages benefit from the learning opportunities present in a woodland environment. They found that by taking the majority of their learning outdoors, whatever the weather, their children became resilient, confident and

independent learners.

If your child takes part in Forest School please ensure they have all of the correct kit in school on the right day - it is all for their own safety and they may not be able to take part without it.

• Sturdy boots or wellies
• Complete change of underclothes (warm layers throughout most of the year)
• Waterproof trousers and waterproof coat

These websites can give more information about the Forest School movement:

• getoutoftheclassroom.com/
• forestschoolassociation.org/