Forest School at The Downs, Malvern College Prep
Forest School arrived at The Downs, Malvern College Prep in September with our Head of Pre Prep; Mrs Jill Walters.
The outdoor classroom is now establlished together with an impressive array of out door protective clothing to ensure the classroom is used in all weathers. Miss Justina Cameron the Head of Early Years has taken on the responsibility of introducing Forest Schools to the youngest pupils which beautifully supports the current Montessori approach to learning. the Early Years garden is designed as an outdoor classroom.
Our Forest School aims to develop:
- Self awareness
- Self regulation
- Intrinsic motivation
- Empathy
- Good social communication skills
- Independence
- A positive mental attitude, self esteem and confidence
The Forest School Site
Our site has been constructed in a clearing in the woodland behind the outdoor pool, in this way keeping the children safe whilst giving them opportunities to explore and incidently gain strength physically as well as become more balanced and coordinated.
The site has space for a fire area, creative art, tool use, games, water collection and flora monitoring amoungst other ideas as well opportunites for construction such as seating areas around the fire and shelters for the damper outdoor lessons.
Older pupils
There are opportunities for the Forest Schools experience to encompass the whole Prep School age range and last summer our Year 8 pupils were involved in creating the basic site, clearing away the brambles and lower branches as well as physically moving equipment. This was part of their community project which takes place annually after exams are finished in the summer. Creating our Forest School not only gave them a physical challange but also helped them feel that they had contributed to the development of the new school.
Just imagine …
Taking a group of three and four year olds into the woods building shelters, leaping into puddles, exploring and experiencing the natural world through practical activities. This is what Forest School is all about.
The Aim of Forest Schools
The aim of the Forest Schools Initiative is to give all pupils the chance to explore and experience the natural world through practical activities using the outdoors to promote confidence, independence and self-esteem. Using the varied natural resources in the woodland and the children’s interests to stimulate imaginative, creative and investigative activities. The children age 3-7 years visit the woodland regularly throughout the year in all weathers!
Benefits of Forest School
Evaluations from recent sessions have shown that children grow in confidence and self esteem, and increase their physical and social skills. These benefits have positive effects on all areas of the child's life and learning.
The daily routine
Before departing from Pre prep the pupils gather to put on wellies and waterproofs before setting off through the gate and up into our woodland area. Stopping here and there to share new discoveries- spring flowers in bloom, new sounds and inevitably to squelch in every puddle or patches of mud they can find!
The children have the freedom to explore and enjoy the space; they don’t hold hands and work in pairs. With time their independence and self-confidence has grown. They know they are safe. Everything is taken step by step and introduced gradually. They are shown simple things like how to carry a big stick safely by dragging it. They are taught about any dangers.
Early on they play a game of hide and seek. The child hides and the adult calls out, ‘One, two, three, where are you?’ The child calls back ‘I’m here!’ it’s fun but there is a serious purpose, too – if a child is lost, rather than the adults shouting, they can call out in a singing voice and the child should respond. In this way, no one is made to feel unnecessarily anxious.
Each session has a structure, a familiar routine which children know and enjoy. The focal point of the forest school is the campfire; large logs surround this. The children sit on the logs for a drink and biscuit, taking care to step over them from the back rather than walking next to the fire.
Using the out door environment, children are encouraged and inspired to grow in confidence, independence and self esteem through small achievable tasks.
As the children gain confidence the challenges become more complex. Above all the child is never set up to fail, each task is achievable.
Learning different skills is not the main purpose of Forest School. Their value lies in giving children the experience to enable them to become confident independent individuals. It gives the children the freedom to take risks and explore their environment.