What The Kids Think of Forest School

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 chatty, they ask questions, they move around with enthusiasm, they are curious to see and do new things, and they do take quiet time to be alone, or with a friend, or to talk to an adult if they want to. A Forest School session allows for that, there is no book to focus on or writing to finish, if you want to find some space you can, if you want to talk to friends you can, if you want an adult to listen they can.

NEXT week is our celebration week. For the last six weeks we have delivered 'Forest School Lite' across KS1 & KS2, twelve classes getting outside for 90 minutes a week and doing Forest School Activities. The reduced time, and the fast pace of three sessions a day has meant no snacks at the end of a session, so we will make up for this in the final week with a campfire, biscuits, marshmallows and Hot Chocolate. The children are very excited about this.

In the past I have used the final week to ask the children what they like about Forest School, however this is frequently influenced by the treats! 'I love mallows!', 'I love hot chocolate'. If I ask what they like doing then they look frantically around and tend to choose whatever that can see! So this time I decided to ask them during the penultimate week!

When we were sat at Basecamp at the start of the session I asked what they liked, what were they looking forward to? When we convened back at the end before they headed into school, I asked again to see if they had changed their mind, and in between while I was walking around talking to them I asked why they had chosen their activity, and what they felt about it.

Some of this was literally single words scribbled on a clipboard. A sort of random survey on what was popular with which year group. Some comments were written verbatim to quote later, others were recorded on video while filming what the child chose to explain.

There was no pressure to join in with this. Those who didn't want to answer didn't have to. But the vast majority of children had something to say and wanted to explain what they liked about Forest School.

And it was VARIED!

The digging area has been a HUGE hit. It is amazing how much children just enjoy digging a hole, creating a volcano, tunnelling through, raking soil, and finding 'treasure'! The 5 year olds through to the 11 year olds are equally enthusiastic in delving into the sandy soil. If I ask a child at the Dig Pit what they like doing best they say 'Digging!' - which could be them latching on to the first thing they see, or could be self explanatory as this is exactly what they have chosen to do!

Likewise, those intently apprenticed to Irrigation Engineering will always decree playing with the water as their favourite pastime, as they pour buckets of water along the gutters...

As for those hunting for minibeasts...

But at least a entire class, with hot chocolate moustaches and stringy mallow on their chins didn't all declare the best part of Forest School is 'TREATS!'.

This week plenty of children have enjoyed just looking at all the season changes and enjoying Autumn - something that's hard to do inside.

All the classes have smiled through sun and rain, and explored all the areas of our grounds we were able to use and examine. The Wildlife Garden, The Mud Kitchen, the Copse - regardless of weather!

So I'm going to take them at their word. One term, 7 weeks of 'Forest School Lite', Outdoor Learning following the season, the weather, and the interests of the classes...

And next term - we will build on that!







 

Location: Canterbury, UK

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