Forest School offers children and young people opportunities for a fun and confidence building experience, by spending time in the woods under the care of qualified and experienced Forest School practitioners.
They can learn about the natural world and gain the confidence to face life as a well‑balanced, happy individual.
Forest School involves regular visits to a local area of woodland, allowing children and young people to develop a connection and appreciation of the environment. Sessions can be matched to the curriculum and will offer opportunities for challenge appropriate to the individual.
Forest Schools originated in Sweden in the 1950s and has spread across Scandinavia and south to many other countries. It reached the UK in 1995 and is spreading across the country.
It is recognised by both the Welsh and Scottish assemblies and is now included as a part of their education policies.
The Forestry Commission plays a big part in the promotion of Forest School in England in partnership with several county councils, more and more schools are recognising the benefits Forest School can bring to education when run in parallel with conventional education.
Forest Schools has been shown to be particularly beneficial to children and young people who for whatever reason have difficulty accessing the school system.
The ethos behind Forest Schools, and one of the reasons for its success, is that children and young people are always supported to challenge themselves at an appropriate level, making sure that any tasks are achievable for the individual.
This inspirational approach has been proven to build confidence, self-esteem, motivation, co-operation and empathy to others in a group setting. It provides the opportunity for children and young people with low self-esteem and challenging behaviour to succeed and develop a more positive approach to learning. It enables them to take on responsibility and manage risk in a controlled way, increasing their self confidence and independence.
