Mama Beech

Getting Both Outdoor Learning and Forest School ready for the next few months when the days shorten and the weather turns cold is a busy time. Getting the actual spaces ready as well as the activities is a juggle, fitting in the prep and planning around actually taking the children for sessions is almost impossible! A lot of thinking on your feet is required! And involving the children is a given. The Wildlife Garden is by no means ready but the bare bones of what is needed is in place to build on. This was achieved by two weeks of 3 Forest School sessions a day for four days each week, including all classes from Year 1 to Year 6, and laying the foundations of how the area needs to be looked after. The children also joined in the maintenance and improvements to the area. A sudden 'Indian Summer' sent the temperature up and the sunshine out and the children's enthusiasm blossomed.  Obviously, after both a six week Summer break for some, and a 5 month break from school from p...

This week in Forest School we have been readying the Wildlife Garden for Winter. It sounds a little premature, especially after such glorious weather, but as we see the Garden as belonging  to the Wildlife, we decided to ensure there were more Hedgehog Houses in the hedges, more Toad Abodes in the Amphibian Village, more nesting material and opportunities for a House for a Mouse, and more feeding stations available for all creatures.  We've been working flat out to make sure every class has the chance to contribute. We want these things in place for the Chartham Wildlife to acclimatise to before they look to hibernate later in the year. This specific area of our grounds we see as a large Natural Science Area, a chance to link everything in the curriculum regarding life cycles, food chains, hibernation, plants, habitat, care and understanding, teamwork, observation, and seasons (to name just a few curriculum threads) to real life experiences. Building a terrace of hedgehog...

Anyone involved with Forest School knows that it isn't just aimed at EYFS. The Early Years which works best as a hands on investigative process does compliment the pedagogy of Forest School, but children of all ages benefit from exploration and experimentation. To me, Forest School is an educational philosophy, a WAY of teaching and learning rather than a 'subject'. Although there are definitive skills that are linked to Outdoor Learning, it basically encourages 'learning' of all kinds, at all paces, and in all areas, while allowing for a fluid and diverse outcome specific to the child. There are skills that will be learned along the way, and when attached to a Primary School it's easy to make these compliment the Indoor learning and fill in the gaps that that curriculum leaves. This week all year groups have had the opportunity to join in a Forest School session. Well, Year 1 through to Year 6. Reception Year are settling and will be included in the next round....

Since school ended in July there has been a heatwave, a drought, a few pelting-flood-threatening showers, and two gusty storms, all with the ability to wreak havoc on any Outdoor Learning Area. Walking onto site this week to check how things survived took a little bravery! Luckily the sun was welcoming and I was up for a challenge...! The parachute by the mud kitchen was still hanging high, which is fairly miraculous as it's often the first thing to drop when the winds come! However 'unauthorised visitors' had been in over the summer making a mess. Mostly it seems to be children trespassing to play, which is irritating as they never tidy up after themselves.  Sometimes there are crisp packets and water bottles scattered around.  Other times it's empty cans of beer and small silver canisters... which I assume (and hope) means it's not current pupils gaining entry! Other than a lottery win that would allow us to put a secure structure around the entire site, there is ...