Forest School/Outdoor Learning Vision Statement
Forest School and Outdoor learning is predominantly child led. It remains the basic of every session, with children being able to choose and lead their activities. Teaching holistically is very much of paramount importance with the sessions facilitating play and individual learning, building on resilience, confidence and improving self-esteem as well as gaining a further knowledge and appreciation of our natural environment.
At Shefford Lower School the skills we teach in Forest school:
There are copious amounts of skills that the children will learn and boundless evidence on how Forest school and Outdoor learning impacts so positively on self-esteem, confidence, resilience etc.
These skills are based on children receiving two 6 week programmes with progression through the 5 keys areas. The levels are very loosely attached to a year group but it depends on how much experience the child have had. The 5 areas include:
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Knots
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Nature ID – plants/trees/mini beasts
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Tool use
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Fire
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Teamwork
The second 6 week block the children will be working towards badges (Spider, Ladybird, Fire) on completing those 6 weeks and the skills involved they will work towards collecting as many badges as they can.
Mindfulness also runs through the lessons, using a sit spot to encourage time to ‘be in the moment’ by having 5 minutes of peace, using the sense of hearing and smell particularly to enjoy the outdoors.
FOREST SCHOOL/OUTDOOR LEARNING CROSS CURRICULUM MAP