Mama Beech

Forest School is just one aspect of Outdoor Learning, but it's the one I lead so I write about it often. The development of other outdoor focuses rests on the school as a whole and although I participate I can't always explain them well if I haven't been involved. There are lots of possible routes for learning outside, from literally taking a class based lesson out onto the grass, to working with the landscape available and creating learning specific to whatever environment you have nearby. So a class reading session in the playground, clipboards to draw a local tree, or a walk around the local area counting cars/houses, looking at architecture, learning a route, spotting wildlife etc. Whatever your school has available, urban or rural, can be woven into daily teaching. For us, with a lot of outdoor space, it's a huge waste of resources NOT to. A recent chat on Twitter reminded me about Te Whariki, the New Zealand Curriculum for Early Childhood. When I first read it...

Mama Beech sits on a hill just outside Canterbury in Kent.  This photo is from last winter. It can be a frosty place, exposed on one side, and battered by the elements all day every day. It can be ridiculously hot on the field with no shelter, breezes become gales despite the trees around the perimeter, and rain likes to seep in around all the edges whenever it falls! A few miles away is an amazing place called  Wildwood Trust ,   a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife. A place I have been to many times and even did some CPD there a few years ago. Luckily for us there is a swathe of forest between us, w ith over 11 square miles of distinctive ancient woodland (complete with walking and cycling routes, plus wildlife spotting and horse riding), and a City! Both can provide good community links. Part of  Blean Woods  is a  RSPB  nature reserve, but the west Blean Woods includes land belonging to  Kent Wildlife Trust  who...

It's Friday. Term is over. The school year somehow 'complete' without ever being completed. Mama Beech is basking in sunshine and enjoying the peace of the woods without children!! 😆 However for some it has been a busy week! The 'tidying' after 6 weeks of constant Forest School and continual Outdoor Learning has taken it's toll! It's a good job that the land we use is about to get six weeks rest. So for the first time since March I had time to tackle the Wildlife garden. Last September the garden was feeling a little sorry for itself. The canopy over basecamp was on the floor and the pond was little bit too utilitarian to encourage much wildlife... We started  by re-wilding the edges of the pond and tidying the whole area. The canopy was raised but winds brought it down again, so a long longed for upgrade was finally discussed. An unexpected rebate on services unused suddenly put enough money in the budget to look for a more permanent and robust structure, ...

The school year has ended. The children are no longer in 'Bubbles' and staff are retreating to find some kind of normality in an insane world after possibly the weirdest academic year ever! Forest School celebrated the end of it all with a campfire for each bubble. Never as easy as it sounds! Shopping, collating, transporting, piling up all the equipment and the treats and activities and the kindling and wood and safety requirements... Then ensure there's enough for three bubbles because you can't leave the fire once lit and they will be heading your way eagerly like a pupil conveyor belt!!! I am literally exhausted - but it was fun - and the children enjoyed themselves. Before I face a summer of trying to do some planning with no certain outlook for September from the Government, I need to steal some time to ensure we are as ready as can be for starting Forest School next term with clear expectations and the implementation for a few new 'old rules' to return to...

This last week of term has been a week of Campfires and treats. For so long we haven't attempted a fire because of air quality, the increased risk to needing to call emergency services, and because it has been so dry! But rain and an easing of advice from The Fire Service meant that this week all 12 Bubble classes got to pond dip, sit by a fire, eat some treats, and discuss what they like best about Forest School.... Orange Bubble... Discovering newts Watching the frog Holding a water boatman Climbing trees Climbing high Climbing upside down Peeling twigs Whittling wood Building dens Running fast Digging deep Racing on the tyres Lovely treats Butterflies Survival... Purple Bubble Love holding baby newts Playing with friends Making up stories Love Trees Leaf matching Branch climbing Playing all together Having treats 'If the others were here they would be so happy!' R ed Bubble like Making dens Climbing trees Swinging on ropes Exploring in unknown places Whittlin...

This week we finished the school year with  a campfire for each bubble.  The children enjoyed a little wildlife appreciation then toasted a marshmallow (which they never get bored of doing) had a mug of hot chocolate, and enjoyed a biscuit before heading back to the end of year celebrations inside. While we shared our treat we all discussed what we liked best about Forest School... And this is what they had to say: Y1 Green Bubble like: Pond dipping    Wriggling tadpoles  Frogs & toads & newts with tiny toes   Climbing trees that are wide and strong Playing with friends in the shade Swinging in the hammock Playing chase through the long grass Running faster than my friends Finding woodlice under logs We love hot chocolate And especially mallows!!  We love everything! YR White Bubble like: Chasing fast Hidden paths Climbing high Balancing on tyres The mud kitchen Digging down deep Finding secret hills We even like learning Playing an...