Intent

Forest School at Summercroft takes a holistic approach to learning, with a child centred view, where there are endless opportunities for all children of all ages and abilities. Our aim is to inspire and encourage children through positive experiences.  Forest School at Summercroft is not about the outcome but the journey and process taken. The children will develop their self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, empathy and social skills which will enhance their emotional intelligence helping to create a balanced child.

Forest School sessions at Summercroft will be frequent and regular throughout the school year in our rich outdoor environment, allowing children to manage risk and have a variety of different learning opportunities, which interlink with a cross curricular view. The sessions will reflect the interest of the learners with the staff giving children a springboard to work from. Children will have the opportunity to learn about to natural environment, how to use their own initiative to solve problems and most importantly how to co-operate with others.

At Summercroft we aim to foster resilient, confident, independent and creative learners by giving the children the opportunity for physical, intellectual, communicative, emotional and spiritual development. 

Implementation

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in the forest classroom, we implement a curriculum that is progressive. Forest school is carried out weekly for a whole morning or afternoon throughout the academic year. We go out in all weathers apart from high winds and thunderstorms so we ensure that the children are well equipped with appropriate clothing to enjoy the sessions.

Our provision is in the school grounds and offers a copse, meadow and a woodland walk (Wild Wood Way) as well as a fenced-in area which contains a fire pit (named ‘Where the Wild Things Are). During the forest school sessions we provide children with the time to experience their environment and to be fully emerged within their learning. Teachers scaffold a variety of different learning opportunities which in turn encourages children to be inquisitive and curious about the world around them.

Some activities that the children experiences include –

• Shelter building
• Studying wildlife
• Playing team and group games
• Sensory activities
• Rope and string work – tying knots
• Art and sculpture work
• Woodland crafts
• Developing stories and drama
• Meeting imaginary characters