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.

Winter in the woods

As the temperatures drop it is so important to provide your child/ren with the correct clothing for Forest School.  Unlike a family walk in the woods, at Forest School we don't move around all the time. 

If your child insists on wearing shorts, skirts or dresses on their day for Forest School please bring in additional trousers or leggings to help them stay warm in the woods.

The best way to stay warm is to layer up.  We will always give the children time to dress warmly for the woods so they can enjoy their time in the woods without worrying about being cold.

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

Summer in the woods 

As the temperatures rise it is still important for children to wear long sleeves and long trousers or leggings.  There are lots of stinging nettles in the woods which means the children need to be protected if they want to play in the whole woods.  Since the deer no longer use the woods there are lots more stinging nettles and other plants for your child/ren to explore.

We also do whittling and other craft activities which are safer to do with trousers.  The woods are very shady in the summer months and so it can also be a cooler place than the playground.  

It can rain a lot in the summer months too so please bring a lightweight raincoat for your children to keep in their Forest School bag.  We want your child/ren to have the best time in the woods and proper clothing really helps them to engage fully in all our activities.

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 Marsh who leads Forest School, works with a very motivated and qualified team including Mrs Berry, Mrs Ria and Mrs Blackie, 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 Mrs Marsh 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.