Forest School
'How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity'. Psalm 133:1
Forest School at RCFS
Forest School is a firm favourite of all our children, right across the school, because it is always enormous fun; rain or shine. We truly believe it is incredibly beneficial to them in every aspect of their individual development. They all love the excitement of learning about nature through play in a woodland environment, and every child deserves to do so.
When they are ready, the children begin to learn skills using tools, tying knots, shelter building, woodland skills and mindfulness. Science, Food Technology, Art and Design Technology are a huge part of Forest School learning. Tool skills and learning how to create objects from natural products, such as paint, are part of the learning journey. Physical development is also a key area, with children learning to negotiate uneven terrain in dry, icy, wet and muddy weather. Children learn more easily through movement and visual experience - the more interactive and participative the better.
Rain or shine (there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing), the children spend about two hours per week on Putney Heath, the area next to our EYFS / KS1 building. The children have fondly named one of the trees 'Oaky' and they say hello and goodbye at the start and finish of every session.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of Forest School education, its purpose is to nurture the child holistically; to give the child the opportunity to take risks in the natural environment; to learn about flora and fauna; to connect with the changing seasons; to explore learning in teams and as an individual; to learn skills in the great outdoors; to be creative and imaginative and, most of all, to reflect and grow from their learning experiences.
Being outside in the forest environment also benefits children’s mental well-being; it seems impossible to feel any pressure or stress amidst such natural beauty. The little altercations which are so normal in the playground aren’t evidenced here; instead language and communication thrive and the children learn to negotiate and to respect each other’s points of view, have fun and be adventurous, while keeping themselves and their friends safe.
Our Forest School makes the most of our hands-on approach, encouraging our children to make decisions, work as a team, and to take risks, with certain boundaries. Along with our curriculum, values and ethos, the principles of the Forest School extend children's resilience, social development, self-esteem, confidence and self-reliance, through creative engagement with the natural world.
We run Forest School sessions on our ever evolving site, which can be found on Putney Heath, next to our school. Each year group has the opportunity to attend Forest School sessions on a weekly basis, allowing our children to flourish through our passion for exploring the natural world and outdoor learning.
