Forest School
Forest School is about empowering children to develop confidence and independence while connecting with the world around them.
In our own magical woodland, we run and hide, climb and balance. We build dens, light fires, support learners in their natural curiosity and give them hands-on experiences to help them to understand more about the natural world. We sing, tell stories and cook on the campfire. We use tools to build things, jump in puddles, climb and explore. Every day and every session is different as the environment creates new learning opportunities with its ever-changing seasons. But our prime aim is to learn though having fun!
There are weekly forest school sessions for pupils in Nursery and Pre-Prep, while Prep pupils enjoy fortnightly sessions. Regular Forest School sessions give every child the chance to explore, discover, and thrive in our grounds which benefit from being within the South Downs National Park, an area with a rich and diverse ecosystem and a vibrant haven for wildlife.
Why we think Forest School is important
We believe in giving children experiences to shape their whole selves. The aim of our Forest School is to help develop personal, social and emotional skills such as:
- Independence
- Self-discovery
- Confidence
- Communication skills/making relationships
- Raised self-esteem/self-confidence
- A sense of community
Through self-initiated play, children will learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. They will engage with nature and develop new skills as well as learning about boundaries of both physical and social behaviour.
