Forest School at Duffryn Nursery

What is Forest School?

“Forest School is an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, and develop confidence through hands-on learning in a woodland environment.”

(Jenner, 2004 and Murray & O’Brien 2006)

Forest Schools Practice

Forest schools is unique as its practice is based on the combination of a

number of key features, these include:

- The use of a woodland setting

- Learning can be linked to the National Curriculum and

Foundation Phase objectives

- The freedom to explore using multiple senses

- Regular contact for the children over a significant period of

time

- A high adult to pupil ratio

These features are deemed to be highly important as they: enable contact

with the natural environment (an ever decreasing experience for many

children in today’s society); encourage and support children in taking sensible

risks; allow for individualised learning; enable children to develop their own

learning styles; develop children’s motivation and positive attitudes to learning

and provide time for children to grow in confidence with themselves, their

peers and the environment.

Forest School at Duffryn

Forest School has been running for a long time at Duffryn Infants

School. We have fabulous woodlands within our school grounds

and have developed them so we have can deliver Forest School

to our children. This starts in Nursery with a six week block and

continues throughout the Infants School.

Forest School Procedures

Staffing

Forest School sessions are always led by a qualified Forest School Leader.

Leaders will have undergone an intensive training programme and will have been

awarded a Level 3 qualification by the Open College Network (OCN). Other staff

attending forest School sessions are also well versed in Forest School practices.

The Forest School Leader will also be First Aid qualified.

Forest School (Nursery) Handbook

This is kept in Nursery and must be read and signed by all participating adults

and is available to be read by any other interested parties eg parents, students

etc. It contains the following:

• Forest School Leader certification

• CRB disclosures

• Valid Insurance information

• Risk assessments for site, activities and staff

• Health and Safety policy and procedures

• Child Protection Policy and Procedures

• Woodland Management Plan

Ratios

The adult: child ratios for Forest Schools in Nursery will be at least 1:4, and often

1:3. Certain activities will require a higher ratios of adults to children. This will be

indicated on the session risk assessment. Where children are receiving specific

or additional support for individual needs 1:1 support will be incorporated if

necessary.

Session time

In Nursery each Forest School session last for just under 2 hours.

During this time the groups always have a drink and snack.

Forest School Procedures cont.Clothing

Clothing and footwear for children and adults is provided by the Nursery.

Essential clothing for each session for both children and adults:

• Wellington boots

• Waterproof trousers and jacket

Transport

As our Forest School site is within the grounds of Duffryn Infants School the

children walk to Forest School.

Forest School Roles and Responsibilities

Forest School encourages the children to develop enjoyment,

confidence, self-esteem, knowledge and coordination

When working with the children during Forest School sessions:

• Encourage the children to do things for themselves e.g. putting on clothes,

climbing the slopes and holding back branches

• Talk and listen to the children as much as possible

• Give help and encouragement whenever needed e.g. a more timid child

may need support when playing 1, 2, 3 Where are you? for the first time

• Encourage the children to help each other, share and to solve problems

together. Give praise.

• Encourage the children to reflect on how they have changed e.g. how they

can now walk along a log by themselves

• Encourage children to enjoy but also to look after themselves

• Point out features, insects, plants, weather, sounds etc. that

they may not have noticed.

• Take opportunities to reinforce safety routines e.g. stepping

• over the log at the log circle, stop at the pink wool.

• Have fun and enjoy yourself!