Mama Beech

Working 'Term Time Only' doesn't mean I won't end up being around children at Half Term, nor does it mean I won't be surrounded by forest on my days off!  With Covid still lurking it is safer - even if not demanded in all areas - to meet outside, and nowhere is better than amongst the trees! For those of you who have not attempted shinrin yoko , I can highly recommend a family stroll or a solo adventure through the woods ! A week's hiatus for Forest School, but still the chance to enjoy the woods and the trees, and the turn of the season! I will happily wander alone too. Wellies and waterproofs, fresh air and a chance to unwind! I love Autumn, even the dull and grey bits! The wet and puddly bits are great if you're dressed for it, and damp weather pretty much guarantees you the space to yourself as others stay home! But if you haven't been out in the chilly air and returned home damp, then the hot shower, hot chocolate and huge sweater wasn't apprec...

We were a bit sad to miss actual Forest School Day on the 9th of October but Friday is the only day Forest School doesn't run sessions! So last week we continued with our ongoing provision through rain and shine and set aside this week as a celebration of the end of term. Autumn is really bursting forth, the colours are glowing, there's a nip in the air, and the mornings are oh so late starting! In fact, down a dark, dark lane there's a dark, dark Village... In the dark, dark Village there's a dark, dark Street... In the dark, dark Street there's a dark, dark School... In the dark, dark School there's a dark dark Forest School... In the dark dark Forest School there's a dark, dark Basecamp... And that dark, dark Basecamp is waiting... Today is the end of Term 1 in Kent, the end of half term for many, and the constant turn seasons brings Forest School into full Autumn. For seven weeks all of KS1 and KS2 have been coming outside once a week for a reduced Fores...

I can't judge how well the children have settled back into school life after Covid wreaked havoc on their routines, family life, education, and altered the way they lived. The virus obviously hasn't gone, it's still influencing all those things. School this Autumn is very different to school last Autumn. Even school last Winter, the Spring it all changed, and for those who experienced a classroom this Summer, things are different. Schools are evolving, reacting, adapting and responding to what their particular pupils need, while considering National Guidance and the constant threat of Local Lockdowns. I don't teach the children in class. I'm a Dedicated Forest School Leader, I see the children outside only, for whatever activities I have planned. I follow their interests and progression but can't judge how different their behaviour or attitude is within their indoor school life. All the children who come outside arrive smiling, they emit an energy, they are chat...

UG! What a week! I can cope with rain, with hail, sleet and especially snow 😍, but the wind.... Last weekend Storm Alex battered the South of England, and the North, East, South AND West of Chartham School Grounds. It's very frustrating sitting at home listening to pelting rain and watching bending trees and just having to wait and see what the effect will be on Forest School and other Outdoor Learning areas. Mostly it's an increase of tree debris, occasionally it's the downing of a branch, or bough, or even a tree, frequently it's the arrival of a ridiculous amount of litter blown in from all directions.  Back in January the Wind brought down one of our Elder Trees, which then had to be cut into pieces. We kept the logs for the bug pile, and the chippings to help soak some of the mud, but we were sad to see it go. Clearing up after a storm takes time. If you walked into a trashed classroom you would be mortified - and the space would need to be child friendly and appe...

At the risk of repeating myself - Forest School is only one part of outdoor learning. Currently we're running 'Forest School Lite'. The Forest School Leader is running the sessions, but it's not Forest School format, or Forest School length... So is it Forest School? Probably in the strict definition of things it isn't. The children have a 90 minute time slot allocated to each class, but due to staggered starts and finishes, lunches and breaks, and movable timetables, some classes spend just over an hour outside.  So we are firmly in the realms of outdoor learning sessions, however we try to follow as much of Forest School routine as we can in preparation for the start of full sessions in future Terms. The bonus of this format is that 3 sessions can be fitted into one day, and across four days twelve classes get to venture outside and begin to explore the area with Forest School rules and ethos and freedom.  In our particular setting we can also rotate use of differ...