St. Peter's C.E. Primary School, Ashton

The philosophy of Forest School is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through an innovative, long term, educational approach to outdoor play and learning in a woodland environment.

The progress of each individual will be observed and monitored and a thorough evaluation process will used to ensure that the programme and session aims and outcomes are being met.

All sessions are designed around the needs of the children and are designed around a theme. Themes are sometimes subtle such as evolving or exploring the site or more obvious such as butterflies, spies, fairies or nature investigators. Many areas of the National Curriculum Foundation to KS2 are intrinsically covered in the Forest Schools experience without the programmes needing to be curriculum led.

Teamwork skills are developed through games and activities. Individual skills and self-esteem are heightened throughout activities such as hide and seek, shelter building, tool skills, lighting fires or environmental art, the list is endless. Each activity develops intra and inter-personal skills as well as practical and intellectual skills.

Tools are used in Forest Schools in a traditional woodland manner and are introduced gradually with a structured safety base that your children become familiar with. The use of tools in the wood promotes trust and self-confidence within those taking part; their use will develop both gross and fine motor skills.