What is a Forest School?

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Forest School is an ethos - a way of working in the outdoors which usually takes place in forest or woodland setting.  It is a whole-person approach to learning and development in nature.  The Forest School Association has a set of principles that we work with and challenge ourselves to grow better all the time:

  • Principle 1:  Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School.
 
  • Principle 2:  Forest School takes place in a natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
 
  • Principle 3: Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners​
 
  • Principle 4: Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
 
  • Principle 5:  Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
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  • Principle 6:  Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning

Coming to Forest School on a regular basis has positive impacts on social, emotional and physical wellbeing for all age groups - and especially for young teenagers.  There is growing evidence that it builds personal resilience and creates space for young people to have a break from the stresses that may surround them in school - whilst their learning continues.  
School 'Days in the Woods' 

If your school is already running Forest School, or would like to have a woodland experience, it may be time for a day deep in the forest.  We design this together before you come, and it could include:

  • building shelters of fallen branches and poles
  • making small campfires
  • exploring around the woods, hunting for tracks, bones, feathers, flowers, bugs...
  • making stories together around the campfire or under the story-telling tree
  • using our messy mud to make clay-faces, models and pictures
  • cooking popcorn, marshmallows or even campfire pizzas
  • using the shave-horses to learn tool-work
  • projects linked to the curriculum.
 
What makes us different at Neroche Woodlanders is the ‘whole forest-whole person’ approach, whereby we nurture an under-managed area of woodland which in turn creates the spaces to nurture children, young people and adults. We also run regular volunteer events to manage the woods and have a group of committed volunteers who help run Forest School sessions - all are DBS checked. 


Find out more
​Costs depend on numbers, activities and staffing.  We will do our best to make it affordable for your school or group. 
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For information about availability and costs for bringing regular school groups, please contact us or email [email protected].

Research

 The development of an interdisciplinary theoretical framework for Forest  School in the United Kingdom

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