Forest School

 

What is Forest School?

Forest school is a unique educational experience and process that offers children the opportunity to succeed and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland environment.

Children engage in motivating and achievable tasks and activities throughout the year in almost all weathers.  Children will work with tools, play and learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, grow in confidence, self-esteem and motivation whilst developing an understanding of the natural world.

The forest school concepts originates in Denmark, originally aimed at preschool children, where it was found that children who had attended forest school then arrived at school with strong social and communication skills, having the ability to work in groups effectively, generally had high self-esteem and a confidence in their own abilities, these foundations helped them to raise their academic achievements.

Forest school encourages children to:

• Develop personal and social skills.
• Work through practical problems and challenges.
• Use tools to create, build and manage.
• Discover how they learn best.
• Learn how to manage failures.
• Experience achievement and success.
• Reflect on learning and experiences.
• Develop their language and communication skills.
• Improve fine and gross motor skills.
• Build confidence in decision making, risk taking and team building.

FOREST SCHOOL AT COMPASS POINT

At Compass Point we provide a fully inclusive, engaging forest school experience with exciting outdoor learning opportunities. It is a hands-on approach which encourages children to make decisions, to work in a team and to take risks within certain boundaries. The Forest School approach has been shown to build resilience, boost self-esteem and develop confidence through creative engagement with the natural world. 

We run Forest School on our ever evolving amazing Forest school site which developed by volunteers from Avon Wild life Trust and Compass Point School and Children Centre. We have Beetle Banks were built in the shape of a ladybird and slow-worm.  Stick and Log Screens were erected containing a mix of sticks and logs to create vertical insect homes. Mini-beast world contains small rocks, mini caves, where the children can let their imagination flow.

We also visit other woodland locations, each providing a very different holistic experience

Gatehouse Green Learning Trust was recently recognised as a Forest School Provider, by the Forest School Association, who are the professional body and UK wide voice for Forest School, promoting best practice, cohesion and 'quality Forest School for all' 

At Compass Point, we strive to ensure children can learn through exploring the Natural World, we have a passion for outdoors and child led learning.

 

“Outdoors is full of unpredictability and the sheer variability of

the outdoors as an environment is what makes it unique.”

 

(Tovey, 2007)

Forest School Challenges

Here are  some outdoor/Forest School challanges for you to have a go at when at home.  Please click on the link below

 

• forest school challenges compass p web site jan 2021
• forest school challenges web site feb 21
• forest school friday 5th march 21

 

 

Forest School Gallery