Forest School
"Forest School is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem, through hands-on learning experiences in a local woodland or natural environment with trees"
Brenzett CE Forest School sees children as competent, capable, curious, adventurous and imaginative learners. Children regardless of their age, will take from the environment which is particularly relevant, challenging and interesting to them. It is through immersion in nature that children, with adult support and guidance learn to respect nature, develop an understanding of their own place in the natural world and begin to appreciate the interconnections of living things.
Within Forest School, children explore and acquire new skills at their own pace. The focus is on the process and not the product, ensuring that tasks are small and achievable in steps. No one can fail in Forest School.
Relationships and trust are built upon, developing an awareness of boundaries and an understanding of safety within the Forest School environment. Allowing the children the freedom to explore develops interdependence. Children learn to look out for each other, anticipate and manage own risks and situations.
Lifelong learning develops within Forest School sessions. Children develop holistic skills that contribute to confident, resilient, happy individuals. Children become aware of their natural environment and seek to explore and show respect for their surroundings.
Over time, through freedom of choice, children explore and investigate their new world with confidence and develop their 'flow'. It is at this point that children begin to develop the necessary abilities to explore practical skills with an adult, leading to independent projects using tools and learnt knowledge and understanding.