Forest School

“This is the best kind of classroom,
It’s a journey through time and space,
From the smallest seed to the largest tree,
This is a Forest and a learning place.

This is the best kind of classroom ,
Where the seasons don’t happen in books.
Where the learning is watching and thinking and talking
And everyone notices, everyone looks.”
(Quote from ‘The best Kind of Classroom’ by Ian MacMillan)
 

Forest School is an inspirational process that offers children opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem, through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland environment. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have our own wooded area at Telford Infant School and regularly make use of this area – come rain or shine!

Our Forest School Leaders are Mrs Michelle Smith and Mrs Louise Barnes.

The Forest Schools programme combines practical skills and activities with techniques to encourage independence, raise self confidence and self esteem and manage behaviour.

Its cross-curricular approach incorporates Maths, English, Design and Technology, Science, Music and Art and it is a particularly effective vehicle to learning for those with additional needs.

An awareness of learning styles and schemas helps to make the programme accessible to a wide audience.

Activities include using tools to make things from wood; using natural materials to make shelters and produce art work (eg. mud sculptures); fire building and toasting marshmallows on a campfire and exploring the habitat through mini-beast safaris and sensory games.

After a Forest School session please expect your child to come home muddy, dirty and beaming from ear to ear!