What is Forest School?

Forest School is an internationally-recognised, innovative approach to education. The Forest School movement in the UK is growing and becoming established as a part of many children’s and also adult’s lives.

Outdoor Hub

Activities

events

All Events Courses, Training and Workshops Conferences and Lectures Annual/Special Days/Weeks/Months Festivals, Camps and Residentials

Outdoor Practitioner: free online magazine

Nature Premium

Woodworking

All Woodworking Books on woodworking Guides Introduction Muddy Faces ideas News Policies & manifestos Research & reports Videos Woodwork & learning Woodwork & safety Woodwork tools & tips

Learning outdoors

All Learning outdoors Inspiring quotes Learning outdoors books Learning outdoors guides Learning outdoors news Learning outdoors reports Learning outdoors videos Learning outside research Learning outside resources Learning outside useful websites

Outdoor play

All Outdoor play Books on outdoor play Child led play Creating an outdoor setting Mud Play Natural Play Principles Outdoor play case studies Outdoor play guides Outdoor play in the news Outdoor play links Outdoor play reports & research Outdoor play videos Play Dates Water & sand

Nature

All Nature Books on nature Guides Nature connection & nature deficit Nature connection in the news Reports & case studies Research Useful websites: nature Videos

Art & creativity

All Art & creativity Art & creativity in the news Art & creativity resources Arts & creativity research Introduction Muddy Faces ideas Useful websites: art & creativity

Bushcraft & heritage crafts

All Bushcraft & heritage crafts Bushcraft Fire Heritage crafts

Foraging & food outdoors

All Foraging & food outdoors Foraging & food source news Foraging & food useful websites Foraging books Foraging guides Introduction to foraging Muddy Faces campfire recipes Muddy Faces foraging ideas

Farms & animals

All Farms & animals Food & farming in the news Guides Introduction Reports & research Useful websites

Growing & gardens

All Growing & gardens Gardens & growing guides Growing & gardens news Growing reports & research Useful websites Videos

Sports & adventure

All Sports & adventure Adventure & sports websites Camps, camping & residentials Guides Introduction News Reports Research: adventure Research: physical activity outdoors

Authors

All Authors Alex White Gerda Muller Marina Robb Richard Irvine Teacher Tom

Watch: What is Forest School?
A video from The Forest School Association

Forest School embraces the outdoors as an inspirational learning environment.
It is focused on the child’s learning needs rather than specific outcomes.
Children are able to explore & experience the natural world on a regular & sustained basis.

Forest School provides a unique way of building confidence and self-esteem, learning new life skills and promoting independence through hands-on learning experiences

Forest School programmes are child-led – areas of interest are generated by the children or young people participating. This is achieved through observation and reviewing, which helps practitioners prepare for their following sessions

Forest School sessions take place regularly, ideally once a week, throughout the year, in all seasons and all weathers – unless it is dangerous for the session to take place, such as in extreme weather (high winds or lightning)

Many Forest School projects successfully integrate the school curriculum whilst following the interests of the group or individuals. This is achieved by considering the curriculum in an enabling outdoor context, using learning and teaching strategies which raise confidence and develop communication skills

Where Forest Schools excel is in supporting the individual. The Forest School ethos acknowledges individual learning processes and supports participants at their own pace, and responds to their requirements and areas of interest. It encourages individuals to build up to a point where they feel they can push their own limits both physically and emotionally. Forest Schools provide a safe yet challenging and stimulating environment full of sensory diversity

At Forest School the participants are actively involved with how the programmes develop. This makes experiences relevant to them and has a direct effect on motivation, causing the learning experience to be more emotionally-involved and the learning then rooted more deeply .