The Forest Education Zone
Nurseries, Preschools, Schools, Childminding
& Homeschooling
The Forest Approach have designed their workshops to encourage everyone to feel comfortable playing outdoors and exploring the woodland environment. The woodland allows lots of opportunities to be creative in an outdoor setting and have the space to explore activities that interest them. The Forest Leader may provide some loosely structure through planned activities, However the direction will be decided by the participants and each workshop may be slightly different. The Forest Approach will sometimes include food and drink and shared amongst the group . This will gives the children/adults the opportunity to gather together and share their experiences. At the end of each workshop, the leader will regroup and reflect on their experiences during the session, sharing with the rest of the group what they have enjoyed the most during the session.a paragraph.
We provide The Forest Approach Ethos to your children either at our fantastic rural site, where shared experiences take place at our wonderful outdoor “Hut” & magical woodland (which is 5 mins walk off site ) , in Hartley Whitney Hazeley Heath or if applicable at your setting.
Why not ask your Parents to drop & collect their children with us at a specific time, and you can either send a member of your team , to take photos and collect observations or we can send Lesson plans to you each week .
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We can provide 4-6 weeks block weekly sessions (running separately ) – full of 2-4 hours of learning, investigating, creating, planning.
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When the Nursery/Preschool/School enroll 8 children who take a 6 weeks block booking the setting will receive a banner advertising the service you are providing . The Setting advertises that the children can experience the forest school with a qualified level 3 Forest School Leader.
Payments are arranged with the setting.
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Parents can also choose to book on to individual workshops run by The Forest Approach. As there will be specialist workshop for SEN children , Makaton , 0-5 with parent. The anytime club ( not just for summer !), Any age sessions
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We are not just a workshop – The Forest Approach goes the extra mile
We link the lesson plan to the Early years Foundation stage or The National Curriculum depending on the ages of the children.
These sessions give the children a real feel for forest school ethos as well as time to explore and play as well as being linked to their learning for Early Years Practitioners or Teachers .
For Early Years Setting – we will look activity planned , and where it links in seven areas of learning & the characteristics of effective learning.
For Schools – Activities will be linked to the national Curriculum.
We can tailor the sessions for half/full term booking.
Impact: Why this type of learning ? Why now ?
Implementation; How you going to this ? How are you going to make the learning stick
Impact: How do you know it’s made a difference ? Has it worked?
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“It is argued that taking risks can have positive implications in terms of children’s developmental, social and emotional needs, as well as their overall health. By providing the opportunities for children to manage their own risks in a controlled environment, they will learn vital life skills needed for adulthood, and gain the experience needed to face the unpredictable nature of the world.” (Gill, 2007)
Personal Social and Emotional Development
Opportunities in the forest will develop children’s interests, attitudes and aesthetic awareness of the wider world. There will be opportunities to try new activities and take risks when they are ready, such as climbing on fallen trees and using hand tools. They will also learn ways to conserve and protect nature, keep the environment clean as well as learning how to maintain hygiene outdoors.
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Communication and Language
Children will broaden their vocabulary and develop their listening skills as group contexts will develop conversational skills in practical ways. The very nature of gathering in a circle to share a snack and a story, in an environment such as the woods which has very few external distractions, encourages children to converse with each other and adults alike. They will use verbal and non-verbal communication to express feelings, needs and thoughts and to think through problems. Silence is golden.
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Physical Development/Education
Children build their strength by negotiating tricky terrain, climbing trees, getting in and out of ditches, moving logs, jumping, walking, running and rolling down hills. Children will develop fine motor control and strength in their wrists by using tools, picking up and carrying objects and drawing and painting with natural objects and pigments.
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Literacy
Opportunities to develop mark making and writing skills with mud or dirt with sticks or feathers. Songs, rhymes and poems, fiction and non-fiction books, and oral storytelling of familiar tales are excellent resources to develop language and literacy and can be linked to experiences or things found in the natural environment.
Maths
Children can explore concepts such as measurement by comparing length, height, size, capacity and weight of objects. This can be achieved through practical activities such as den building, cooking, collecting kindling and sticks for fire or through imaginative play.
Understanding the World/Science. Children will have opportunities to find out and identify living things. They will show curiosity by talking and asking questions about what is seen and what is happening. Through observing and exploring they will be able to appreciate patterns and relationships, show an awareness of similarities, differences and change.
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Art
The natural environment fosters opportunities for children to explore colour and texture. There are opportunities for music making, sketching, nature rubbings, imaginative play and creative storytelling.
Bringing others on board
We gather at “The Hut” logged fire circle at the start the session and go through the session plan, the forest school rules to discuss our safety, and the risks in the forest. This covers boundaries, the fire, running, stick and stonework .
Starting with some ice breaker games on site , we will either use The Hut or the forest to do our allocated activities (or both) We will organise sessions so that nursery and schools will have a pre-prepare plan of activities, (subject to change if weather condition prevent us going into local forest)
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