FOREST SCHOOL

Forest School

Children’s learning outside is not a new idea. Some of our most influential theorists believed in outside learning such as Fredrick Froebel, John Dewey, Rudolf Steiner, Susan Isaac’s to name just a few. In fact Margaret McMillian, along with her sister Rachel, developed an open air nursery in Deptford, London in 1903 to help improve the health of children from poor familiars. The children in their care very soon showed improvement in their physical health and mental well-being.

The concept of the Forest School was first implemented in Scandinavia in the 1950’s however the Forest School movement, as we know it today, has been a very large part of early year’s education in Denmark since the 1980’s. It is believed that children gain a new enthusiasm for education through being outside and one with nature. The Denmark schools boast that they produce children with high self-esteem and confidence and improved their behaviour and social skills.

The Purpose of our Forest School

Our philosophy of Forest School is based upon a desire to provide our children with an education which encourages appreciation of the natural world, and which will encourage responsibility for nature conservation in later life.

Using the outdoor environment, our children are encouraged and inspired to grow in confidence, independence and self-esteem through the mastery of small achievable tasks.


Our Forest School sessions will provide children with the opportunity to explore and experience the natural world through practical activities in the outdoors which will help promote confidence, independence and self-esteem. Also by using resources available in the wood and the children’s interests we hope to stimulate further imagination, creativity and enquiry skills.

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