Forest Fridays

Forest Fridays are a long term, holistic learning process that aims to raise self-esteem and self-awareness in participants. Regular sessions take place in a natural or woodland environment, where the landscape itself enhances the experience of learning.  Experienced practitioners facilitate learner-centred sessions where participants can take supported risks to achieve personal outcomes. Forest school can be applied to all age groups and abilities, and can be linked to the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage.

Forest School Definition

Forest sessions are an inspirational process, that offers children and young people opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and develop self-esteem, through hands on learning experiences in a local, natural or woodland environment.

Forest School Principles

Forest sessions have six key principles which are:

1. Forest sessions are a long-term program of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits.  The aim is to provide a deeper knowledge of the natural environment and how it changes across the seasons.
2. Forest sessions take place in a natural or woodland environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world.
3. Forest sessions promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
4. Forest sessions offer learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
5. Forest sessions are run by experienced school practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
6. Forest sessions use a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.

Forest School at Winterslow

We are very fortunate at Winterslow to be surrounded by wonderful woodland areas to support our forest school experiences.

As a school we have developed a personal passport for our children of Forest School activites to do by the time you are 11 1/2. 

This fantastic offers teaches exploration, curiosity and mindfulness alongside lifelong skills.