Forest Schools at Ashurst Wood Primary
What is the Forest School approach?
What should my Child wear?
What do our children say?
What do our families say?
Forest school is an essential part of Ashurst Wood Primary school experience. It is embedded in our curriculum and promotes our school ethos - Love of life, Love of learning and Love of people.
Children and adults have the opportunity to regularly connect with nature both in our woodland forest school site (courtesy of the Eichner family), our school grounds and through walking in our beautiful surrounding countryside.
At the heart of Forest School in Ashurst Wood is the freedom given to children to play. Through play the children are able to develop social skills, problem solve, become resilient and develop empathy and kindness. Play is an essential of child development.
Forest School promotes free play as part of a session as it allows children to indulge in imaginative/focused/individual or social play. It also allows quiet concentration, quiet time alone to think, to look around and be part of nature. The surroundings and the way in which Forest School is structured allows for self-discovery within nature and also in natural art which in turn opens up a plethora of creative opportunities both within an individual and also a social context.
Article 31 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRN) in relation to play clearly states that it recognises the right of the child for rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities (appropriate to the age of the child), to participate freely in cultural life and the arts and the need for respect and promotion of the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life. It encourages the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.
The relevance of article 31 in relation to play is that all children have the right to “down time” this encompasses play and recreational activities as well as culture and arts. Society is encouraged to make the provision for this and allow this to happen. Play is recognised as a vital part of learning as well as social and personal development. The UN has therefore made it a right for every child to participate in play.
For every visit they will need trousers (old jeans preferably), long sleeve tops and trainers or walking boots.
If it is wet
If it is wet or raining a waterproof jacket and trousers and wellies will be needed.
The children will get muddy!
If it is sunny
Trousers (old jeans preferably), long sleeve tops and trainers or walking boots. A sun hat and sun cream will also be required.
If it is cold
Add a warm hat, gloves and a scarf.
On a Forest School Day the children can come to school in their forest clothes.
The children will also need a small rucksack with anti-bacterial hand gel, a bottle of water and a mid-morning snack, as they will be using a lot of energy!
We have looked at fungus and found so many different types.
Friendship is hard and difficult and confusing but in the forest it’s easier because there is space and more freedom. The adults are there if you need them but sometimes, we don’t see them at all.
We made a game of nought and crosses by whittling sticks and using leaves. We hope that someone else will enjoy playing with it.
I really like coming to the forest, if you want to make a swing there is stuff to do it with. It’s beautiful place- if you are by yourself, it’s really peaceful. I once saw a rabbit really close.
I just love making stuff.
The woods is so calming and relaxing, I’ve learnt loads!
I’ve enjoyed making an axe using string and sticks, it’s very hard. I’ve got much better at tying knots.
It makes me look at nature in a different way.
I like playing with my friends, exploring new things, learning all about wildlife and I enjoy using the tools as well!
In the forest I don’t give up, I keep on going until I finish.
I like to help others and make people feel happy. I like making things and testing things out.
We learn to use the tools, make fires and have fun!
We play and figure things out, actually we learn through play.
I like making things, playing with my friends and learning about nature.
We have charcoal and magnifying glasses, and we are playing at being bug hunters.
The children have the freedom to breathe fresh air and discover nature in their own way. I just love the independent learning it’s magical.
The woods is so calming and relaxing I’ve learnt loads! It makes me look at nature in a different way. When we are in the woods the children are responsible for themselves, they feel free.
We just love forest schools and the fact that all the children have this experience.
I am amazed at how much knowledge my children have about the natural world.
I love the way the children transform as soon as they arrive in the forest.
In his previous school my son did not enjoy school or learning. Forest schools has given him opportunities to succeed, and he is now experiencing success in other areas of learning.
Having the beehive teaches the children about life cycles and it is an amazing experience to see the bees up close. The honey the children sell is delicious.
My child had Forest Schools in their previous school, but it wasn’t anything like this. The children are in a real wood and have amazing opportunities compared to it being run on the school grounds.
