Welcome
Welcome to the Smeeth Forest School
What is Forest School?
Forest School is a form of outdoor education, which has an inspirational and child centred learning process at its core. This offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long term program that supports play, development, exploration and risk taking. It increases confidence and self-esteem through child centred hands on experiences in a natural setting. The process is under pinned by six core principles that define Forest School.
Long Term Principle
Forest school is carried out over a long period of time and not one off sessions. This helps children to revisit previous learning and explore at their own pace. At Smeeth the children will have weekly Forest School sessions in their years in Reception, year 1, year 3 and year 5. These weekly sessions allows the children to experience the changing seasons and enables them to spend time outdoors in changeable weather. The children are able to experience the changes within the site and as such begin to gain a valuable appreciation of nature. It gives children the opportunity to create new relationships both with their peers and the adults whilst spending time on an activity that their usual group of friends may not consider and engage in the environment allowing children to feel comfortable to take risks and practice new skills. The children are able to revisit their learning each week should it be continuing to build a den, reaching a higher branch or digging for flint in the dig pit.
Nature Principle
Being in nature helps children to relax, de-stress, feel calm, concentrate and enables children to find where they fit into the world. During our sessions the children will often play games which engages the natural world or quietly spend time up a tree observing. These opportunities enable children to feel calm and connected and given time to just be. A ‘sit spot’ activity where the children sit alone, even for a brief time is valuable and beneficial and the children have the opportunity to tell us their observations and how it made them feel. We are very fortunate at Smeeth to have a lovely forest school area with plenty of trees bordering the field giving the children a natural environment where the children will find rich learning opportunities and build using natural materials. The children through our ‘look after forest school and nature’ rule will learn to care and respect the natural world and are encouraged to engage in sustainable activities using natural resources only.
Risk principle
The children in forest school are able to take both physical risks and social risks. The children love the opportunity to climb the trees, use the tools or swing as high as they had never dared on the rope swings, this is all made possible by the children being able to risk assess themselves. The children early on in their time are explained how to safely climb a tree, looking and reaching for the next branch and pulling themselves up even higher all the while having three body parts attached whilst looking for strong live branches. Social risks are taken when a child engages in activities with groups or another person they may not ordinarily play with, they are able to play alongside, following each other’s common interests and soon enough unlikely friendships have formed. Children take intellectual risks when figuring out a problem and trying to solve it they are able to try new things and challenge themselves by exploring their abilities which in turn builds resilience.
Community Principles
The community principle within forest school allows the children the opportunity to follow their own interests and play. Children take a few weeks to settle into the rhythm and that the forest school leader is there to facilitate and not dictate which direction their learning takes. At forest school we are non-judgemental, and strive to have a more equal relationship with the children, that way we can support and facilitate the direction of their interests. The children will not receive Well Done vouchers or Stars of the week, we believe by following their own interests the children are intrinsically motivated and therefore take their interests in their own direction. Should a child begin an activity and not complete it, this is fine, it’s important to remember that its’ Process over Product’ and therefore, if the child has enjoyed sawing logs and that’s all he wants to do, then that is ok. This approach takes the pressure of the child and should they in future session want to saw wood and create something they will happily take that next step, but for now its ok just to saw. This community approach rather than teacher/child approach ensures the children take control of their learning, explore their motivations and gain confidence and experience. The children will learn to problem solve and are able to explore their interests in greater depths at their own time and pace.
Holistic Learning Principles
The children are supported to develop socially, physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. Children are supported physically by having opportunities to use both their gross motor skills by running, climbing, jumping, balancing and fine motor skills when using tools or creating something. We support them emotionally when needed giving them time to understand their feelings and express them. Supporting the children’s communication even at the very start of a forest school program, sitting around the fire circle listening and speaking, following instructions, working together and communicating their needs. In Forest school they are supported intellectually, being within a natural setting is a perfect place to support the children’s in school learning where appropriate, this is by no means an intentional lesson, but if a child is discovering bugs and finding out a little about them or finding ways to through trial and error to build a den they will take that learning with them into the classroom. Through this children are able to problem solve, learn new skills and become more self- aware. Children are able to build relationships with adults and other children where they learn to understand the needs of others and in turn this builds a sense of community. Children are able to gain a sense of calmness in the forest school area, they often listen to the birds, or take a moment to just sit and observe the natural world around them. They are able to make sense and develop a deeper connection to the natural world.
Leadership Principle
Forest School is led by Mrs Leney who is a Level 3 Qualified Forest School Leader, First Aid trained including paediatric and outdoor elements and sessions are also supported by the schools Teaching Assistants. As a Forest School Leader Mrs Leney provides support but not solutions so the children can problem solve independently. Leaders will model behaviour and communication and observe the needs and motivations of the children. The leader will facilitate children’s interests and provide opportunities for learning along with being a reflective practitioner and as such Mrs Leney is a learner too. Leaders are always learning and it’s vital to engage in continuous professional development opportunities regularly as it maintains a fresh approach and it increases the chances of meeting the needs of the children at forest school.
The Role of Play in Forest School
Play is the highest form of research - Albert Einstein
Almost all creativity involves purposeful play - Abraham Maslow
Children need freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity. - Kay Redfield Jamison
At Smeeth Forest school we believe play is an essential part of your child’s holistic development. Play is a process that is personally directed, freely chosen and intrinsically motivated. It offers your children opportunities to use their creativity by Forest School leaders facilitating and providing appropriate resources to develop your child’s imagination, enabling them to engage in social open ended play. This freely chosen play will support your child’s dexterity and physicality using both gross and fine motor skills. Children can lead their own learning by following what interests them, supporting their cognitive development and emotional strength and resilience.
What to wear?
‘There is no such thing as bad weather, just unsuitable clothing’
At Smeeth Forest School we will go out each week in all weathers and it is important that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Children need to have a warm waterproof coat and preferably waterproof over trousers, along with gloves, hats and scarfs when it is very cold. We have a few ‘puddle suits’ available for the younger children of the school to use, (up to age 5). The children wear wellington boots but it is advisable to wear an extra warm pair of socks. The Forest School Leader will assess the weather using the Beaufort Scale and should wind speeds increase or if there is a risk of thunder and lightning Forest School will be moved to a safer area. In the warmer months please send your child in with a hat and sunscreen.