Forest School

“Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

Forest School has a developmental ethos shared by thousands of trained practitioners around the world, who are constantly developing their learning styles and skills to support new and imaginative learners. Its roots reach back to the open-air culture, friluftsliv, or free air life, seen as a way of life in Scandinavia where Forest School began. It arrived in the UK in 1993 and has grown from strength to strength since then.”

Forest School Association (No Date) What is Forest School?. Available at: https://forestschoolassociation.org/what-is-forest-school/ (Accessed: 07 March 2022)

Forest School at Corfe Castle Primary

This is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in our Forest School site or around the school in the great outdoors.  It brings learning to life in the natural environment in a fun and safe way.

Forest School sessions take place once a week over a 6 week period where children develop a wide range of skills which promotes their holistic development and create resilient, independent and creative learners. Practical activities spark their natural curiosity of the world around them through child-led play and safe risk taking.

Our Forest School sessions run throughout the year whatever the weather and can also support and enrich the National Curriculum whilst promoting the schools values of "Nurture, Inspire, Achieve".

At Corfe our Forest School sessions are run by Mr Johnson and Mrs G Gynes

We are very lucky to have such a large area for a Forest School with lots of different areas for learning and discovery. Here are some of the different areas;

Wild meadow, wildlife pond, base camp, Mr J's cafe, firepit and creative table.

We are also lucky enough to have a resident deer that comes to see what we are doing from time to time!