Forest School is an educational concept which aims to foster the holistic development of the learner using a range of different processes. These processes involve promoting risk management, exposure to managed and perceived risks, the learning of new skills and opportunities for play and learner led achievement.
Quality Forest School provision here at The Langton contributes towards the overall vision of the school and strives to help meet the aims of The Langton curriculum, whilst embedding REACH principals as a core part of its implementation. As stated in the vision of The Langton we are aiming to “become a world class community of independent learners who enjoy an ability to think creatively, critically and innovatively beyond the formal curriculum” whilst generating “a strong sense of responsibility for their school, for their community and for the environment… for the good of the wider world”.
The very nature of many typical Forest School activities and threads of learning have creativity and critical thinking at their core. Forest School enhances our curriculum provision and aims to provide effective opportunities to meet the overall aim of The Langton curriculum in a bid to “develop resilience in our young men and women as well as intellectual courage and to enable them all to be the ethically minded leaders of their generation”. Forest School strives to help achieve this in a number of ways, primarily by utilising a pedagogy which is not used in any other subject areas, by being delivered 100% outdoors and through making use of our onsite Nature Reserve.
Six Principles of Forest School
The Forest School Association (FSA) sets out the following 6 principals which underpin our quality Forest School provision;
Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit.
Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners
Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning.
When the 6 principals outlined above are implemented in an FS provision the participants have the best opportunity to grow and develop skills which are not easily achieved in a traditional classroom setting. For example, fine motor skills can be acquired by using tools for bush craft activities, along with risk management abilities developed through shelter building and fire lighting to name just two of many skill acquisition areas that can be developed. Although the principals set out above highlight how quality FS provision should look and ways it should be run it does not fully highlight the potential benefits which can be gained from regular participation in FS provision. For a more in depth analysis of how the FS principals impact emotional wellbeing through long term FS participation it is worth reading L. Tiplady and H. Menter (2020) Forest School for wellbeing: an environment in which young people can ‘take what they need’.
