Key features of Forest School
- Natural Wonder
- Jun 7, 2022
- 2 min read
The key features of Forest School are:
The use of a woodland setting that is framed by safety routines and established boundaries that allows the flexibility and freedom for child-initiated learning and other innovative approaches to learning to take place in a low-risk environment.
A high adult to pupil ratio allows for children to undertake tasks and play activities that challenge them but do not put them at undue risk of harm.
The freedom to explore using multiple senses is fundamental for encouraging creative, diverse and imaginative play.
Research has shown that Forest School has many beneficial impacts.
Themes 1 - 6 highlight the impact of Forest School on the children studied by Firestresearch.gov. Themes 7 and 8 are concerned with the wider impacts of Forest School on parents and teachers.
1. Confidence
This was characterised by self-confidence and self-belief that came from the children having the freedom, time and space, to learn, grown and demonstrate independence.
2. Social skills
The children demonstrated an increased awareness of the consequences of their actions on other people, peers and adults, and acquired a better ability to work co-operatively with others.
3. Language and communication
The children developed more sophisticated uses of both written and spoken language prompted by their visual and sensory experiences at Forest School.
4. Motivation and concentration
This was characterised by a keenness to participate in exploratory learning and play activities as well as the ability to focus on specific tasks for extended periods of time.
5. Physical skills
The children developed physical stamina and their gross motor skills through free and easy movement round the Forest School site. They developed fine motor skills by making objects and structures.
6. Knowledge and understanding
Increased respect for the environment was developed as well as an interest in their natural surroundings. Observational improvements were noted as the children started to identify flora and fauna.
7. New perspectives
The teachers and practitioners gained a new perspective and understanding of the children as they observed them in a very different setting and were able to identify their individual learning styles.
8. Ripple effects beyond Forest School
The children brought their experience home and asked their parents to take them outdoors at the weekend or in the school holidays. Parent’s interest and attitude towards Forest School changed as they saw the impacts on their children.
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