Our Forest School

Our Forest School programme is a huge part of our offering as a rural nursery. We’re lucky enough to have access to beautiful countryside and we consider educating our children in the outdoors to be an important part of the Dragonflies experience. Every week, our children get to experience learning in the ‘forest’.

Forest School is more than just an opportunity for some fun, outdoor play. It’s a chance to build confidence in the outdoor environment and to learn about and respect everything it has to offer – from discovering mini beasts, to experiencing all weathers.

What happens at Forest School?

Children spend the whole morning or afternoon session in the “forest”. They will be supplied with suitable protective clothing (waterproof dungarees) so that sessions will take place regardless of the weather. Parents are asked to ensure that their children have other suitable outdoor clothing i.e hats gloves coats so that the children are adequately prepared to face the elements.

Sessions take place in the private wood opposite the nursery in Badminton (by kind permission of His Grace the Duke of Beaufort)

All equipment necessary for the session is taken with us including water bottles and snacks.

Activities

The exact detail of the session will depend on the children but they are likely to be involved in activities such as;

Storytelling
Mini beast hunts
Den making
Circle time
Collecting/sorting
Investigating
Recording
Mark making
Listening

What are the benefits of Forest School?

Children are given the opportunity to experience the elements and enjoy “real” experiences.
Offers opportunities to learn that caters for different learning styles – learning is more informal and stimulates thinking forming the basis of life long learning
Space and freedom to move around and develop physical skills – active learning.
Develops risk taking and more importantly develops the understanding of risk in a managed way.
More time to explore and investigate and develop own ideas.
Open – ended with no pre-requisite end result – develops self esteem and sense of pride in own achievements.
Provides opportunities for real creativity and imaginative play.
Physically challenging with associated health benefits

Forest school is fun!

What is Forest School?

Forest Schools originated in Scandinavia where the concept is now well established as a way of learning. Forest Schools move the “classroom” into the outdoor environment and there are many widely recognised advantages of this approach to early years education.

The Forest School approach to learning is exciting and inspirational in which children participate in a series of sessions in the natural environment. Children are offered rich opportunities to promote their well being and confidence in the outdoor environment and are given the freedom to develop their own ideas, make decisions, solve problems and take risks.