Forest School

CCJ endorses the ethos of Forest School and each class spends time in Forest School throughout the year.

Forest School provides opportunities for children to engage with nature and the outdoor environment in a safe, secure and hands on way. Children experience exploring, playing and learning which helps develop independence, high self esteem, team work and respect for the environment. Children learn to take risks and make their own risk assessments within the boundaries of safety. Forest School is special because it plans for personalised learning including schematic learning (patterns of behaviour, e.g. Trajectory, Transporting, Enclosure, Enveloping, Rotation, Circularity and Connection). Forest School is being delivered across Britain and many other countries to ensure our next generation are equipped for conserving our natural world in the future.

As the sessions take place outside appropriate outdoor clothing is advised: a waterproof coat and wellington boots/change of footwear (different to that worn in class).

Aims:

• To promote environmental awareness and encourage respect and responsibility for the natural world.
• Through the children’s interests, play and forest school activities, opportunities will stimulate creative thinking, problem solving and skill development.
• To provide through forest school activities opportunities for children to develop a growing awareness of their emotional needs, the needs of others, to learn to co-operate and work with peers and to form positive relationships with others.
• During each forest school session ensure individuals feel special and value their contributions, promoting self esteem and self confidence.
• Ensure each forest school session is well planned and hands on, to encourage a positive attitude to learning, opportunities to make choices, take risks and initiate  own learning.
• To ensure cross curricular links are utilised and planned in the sessions.
• All learners (adults and children) should enjoy their forest school experiences.