background to forest school

Outline Curriculum Proposal for Level One: Forest Schools Skills AwardColeg Sir Gar, Ammanford

Background to forest school

• Originated in Sweden in the 1950s• Brought to UK in the 1995 by Bridgewater

college

RationaleForest Schools offer children, young people and adults the opportunity to discover how to achieve, how to grow in confidence and how to develop self esteem by hands-on learning experiences in local forests and woodlands.

(Video clip from Forest Schools website)

Forest School Course

• Entry Level: Forest Schools Entry Level

• Level One: Forest Schools Skills Award

• Level Two: Assistant Forest Schools Practitioners Award

• Bilingual training for any adult who works with children and young people .

• Practitioner from within childcare / Educational settings• Little or no experience of working in the outdoors• Will Offer knowledge and confidence in the safe use of equipment

The course will allow participants to look at using the outdoor environment as a tool to facilitate different learning styles

• develop personal skills such as confidence and self-esteem. • practical activities that can be carried out with children and young

adults. • Colegsirgar- widening participation and strengthening links and

working partnerships within the community and surrounding areas.

Geographical Location for the Course

Coleg Sir Gar Campus: Ammanford, Carmarthenshire

Catchment Area

Coleg Sir Gar, Ammanford Campus

The Proposal• Carmarthenshire LEA

State Primary Schools: 123   State Secondary Schools: 15    State Schools Overall:138

• Swansea LEA State Primary Schools: 91    State Secondary Schools: 16 State Schools Overall: 107

• Ceredigion LEA State Primary Schools: 65    State Secondary Schools: 7    State Schools Overall:72

• Neath LEA State Primary Schools: 73   State Secondary Schools: 15 State Schools Overall: 88

• Family centres• Day Nurseries• Mudiad ysgolion Meithrin• PPA• Voluntary organisations• SEN centres• SEN schools• Communities first areas• Sure Start organisations

How the Level 1 Forest School Course fits in with Coleg Sir Gar • Geographical location• Demography – catchment area map?• How we or CSG can adapt existing

space to suit Forest School ethos (making paths, making safe – fencing off to make secure etc)

Aims and Objectives of the Course• Self Awareness• Self Regulation • Intrinsic motivation • Empathy • Good social communication skills • Independence • A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and

confidence

Key Factors impacting on Curriculum Design

• Steep Analysis

Entry Requirements

• Students will need previous experience of working with children but need have little or no experience of working in the outdoors

Validation• Validated Leader to provide copy of certificate to awarding body (OCR)

Information for Students• Course Venue, Duration and

Timing• Coleg Sir Gar, Ammanford Campus• 3 consecutive days• 9am – 3.30pm

Funding• Colegau Cymru• Students will pay £200 per 3 day

course• No registration fee unless late

enrolment

Course Content: Day 19.00 – 12.30hrs• Introduction in the

classroom: – Registration– Orientation /Induction

Session for students to Coleg Sir Gar

– Introduce the Aims and Objectives for the Course

– Introducing Health and Safety principles in the Forest

– The First Aid Kit.

• 13.30 – 15.30 hrs• Developing

Teamwork in the Forest

Course Content: Day 2• 9.00 – 12.30hrs • 13.30 – 15.30 hrs

Course Content: Day 3• 9.00 – 12.30hrs • 13.30 – 15.30 hrs

Assessment• Planning a suitable session in the

forest appropriate to individual student’s area of interest or employment

• Reflective Journal of 1,500 words to be handed in 2 weeks after completion of course

Evaluation and Feedback Procedures

Costings

Marketing

• Local newspaper based advertisements

• Flyers• Written information

sent to local primary schools and interested parties

• Example of a flyer

Further Development