Dressing for the Woods

Together Rain or Shine is certainly part of our Forest School ethos. We go to the woods in all weathers so it is important to provide your child/ren with the correct clothing for Forest School. 

During the colder months, If your child insists on wearing shorts, skirts or dresses then please bring in additional trousers to help them stay warm in the woods.

If you want to see the best way to stay warm, please click on this link.

During the warmer months, we will still generally wear waterproofs but tend to gauge it by the temperature. If children choose to not wear waterproofs when it is warmer then they are made aware that they are less protected from things such as nettles and scratches.

What is Forest School? 

“An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a local woodland environment.” Forest School Association 

Forest School began in Scandinavia and arrived in the UK in 1993. It has grown from strength to strength, and is a long-term venture that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. Forest School develops children’s confidence and self-esteem through child-centred, hands-on experiences.  

Our well-established Forest School at Bridgewater School promotes holistic development for all the children, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. Children participate in activities and games designed to build qualities as well as skills, through an understanding of their local natural environment.  Playing and exploring at Forest School facilitates more than knowledge gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. 

Forest School Principles

• Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
• Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world.
• Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
• Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
• Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
• Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

We work in five areas: woodcraft, shelter, fire, nature and rope. Every session has an activity that supports and extends children’s social development, self-awareness and self-regulation, as well as learning new skills.

We encourage physical and emotional development through outdoor play. The children learn how to assess and handle risks and most importantly, to use their own initiative to solve problems and cooperate with others. 

We are very lucky to have our own school woodland - working outside in all weathers - together rain or shine! 

We are proud holders of the Woodland Trust Platinum Award.

Mrs Blackie who leads Forest School, works with a very motivated and qualified team including Mrs Berry, Mrs Ria and Ms Carr, who are all qualified Forest School practitioners. The team continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

If you would like to volunteer to help at a Forest School session or have a woodland or bush craft skill you would like to share with some of the children please email rachel.blackie@bridgewater.herts.sch.uk for more information.

We work outside in all weathers and across seasons. We routinely use a fire to make a hot drink and enjoy cooking. These boys are making a leaf pile to jump in, we made snow angels and make the most of all the seasons.