Forest School

At Lanchester EP Primary we have an amazing woodland within our school grounds. We are firmly committed to the principles of Forest Schools, which form an important part of our curriculum in the Early Years and Key Stages 1 and 2. Forest School is a type of outdoor education which promotes the holistic development of children, building resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. It offers children many opportunities to achieve and develop personal, social and technical skills and confidence through hands-on learning in our  a woodland environment.

Forest School uses the woods as a means to build independence, teamwork, problem solving skills and self-esteem. The Forest School curriculum compliments the topics in the classroom and the woodland environment is used to support all areas of learning including mathematics and literacy.

Forest School
 follows a set of principles that guide each session:

• Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a 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 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 those 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.