Continuity

Lockdown has been devastating for a lot of Outdoor Learning providers, forest schools are just a small section of sports and activity clubs/events that are on hold right now. The regulations make it either logistically impossible or financially difficult for many of them to open. Schools that are signed up to providers, or employ staff to facilitate outdoor learning on school grounds are in a very lucky position. Their sites remain open and outdoor learning is easier to run within their own risk assessments while catering for Vulnerable/Key Worker children. 

Can you spot the free range children in this picture?

But normal service has not been resumed!

In January 2020 we had three 2hr long full sessions of Forest School running per week. We also had a gardening club, and assorted outside interventions that meant various small groups were working on the Royal Forestry Society Junior Forester Award, the RSPB Wild Challenges, the RHS Campaign for School Gardens, and the Woodland Trust Green Tree Awards. 

(These I highly recommend to anyone who wants to sign up for more outdoor learning. Most of it can be achieved by a family if you wish to do it with your own children, or as a childminder, as well as being a great way to start an outdoor learning journey within a setting.)

All time not spent with pupils was spent improving resources and developing the 9 acres we have at Chartham!

In January 2021 we are on site for 2 days, seeing 7 year group bubbles for 75 minute sessions. This has reduced from December when we had 14 bubbles across 4 days, which had already evolved to ensure that every class had some Forest School input each week, following a year of interrupted school. 

The focus continues to be the safer environment outside; the children's need to be physical and release tension during a time of a lot of change. Plus their need for mindfulness; quiet spaces to reflect, and their need to bond as newly blended classes. 

So Monday and Tuesday feel a little normal! On site: mud, elements, trees, wildlife, activities, digging, and a lot of smiling faces!

This week we made things we could use, like whisks for the small mud kitchen and paintbrushes to take back to class.

The children worked well together, a few pupils from different classes brought together as one bubble, not strangers, but suddenly in a new dynamic, with familiar friends missing, and for some of them - new staff to get used to. 

At least one child from each bubble has sat with me this week, and last, and had a chat. Often while weaving or whittling, they strike up conversations about parents who have to work at hospitals, ill family members, how odd it feels being in a different room, what life at home is like now, what they miss about how things used to be... They share good news too, anecdotes and excitement about impending birthdays.

It's a reminder of how social this environment can be. It affords time and space for children to just chat to adults. The Forest School Leader hasn't changed, the 'classroom' is the same, outside is familiar, basecamp is a place they know well. The routine and structure to Forest School is actually a constant at the moment. 

The children continue to give positive feedback in assorted ways. From their eager arrival, their smiles, their suggestions and ideas, their exploration, their engagement, their remarks, and their thank yous. 

It can be frustrating as this format thwarts a lot of those challenges and awards we were working towards. Shortened sessions removes some of the activity opportunities the children could be progressing through. Forest School is reduced.

The pandemic frequently changes the status quo within schools and communities at short notice, with bubbles closing, families withdrawing, and fears rising and falling. 

As adults we find it a bit of a minefield to navigate this ever changing life we are currently living - as children they stumble through alongside us assuming we know the way. Forest School has no idea what will happen tomorrow, no idea if we will be open on Monday, no idea what move the Government will make next... But if we are on site, we plough on reassuringly 'as usual'. 

Time spent off site is now centred around the computer. Activities devised, collated and researched. Info sought and recorded. Pages scanned into the laptop and housed on a Sharepoint! The laminator doesn't know what hit it. The opportunity to build up some resources and sign up for support and education from those who know much more! The opportunity to expand what the children can do in Forest School needs to be seized.

Kids are kids though, and while lots of them will spend time investigating whatever is new, they mostly know what they like, what they want to do outside. They repeat their games and explorations week in week out. Often as courage builds and they achieve their own personal goals. Watching them encourage each other is always heartening.

The upside to mixed up bubbles is that it can mix up what the children do. The absence of a dominant character, the removal of a friend, the arrival of someone with new ideas, finding someone who has the same interest as you, have all occurred this week and have enticed some children into new activities. 

So the continuous provision of guides for bird watching, tress spotting, bug hunting, leaf/fungi/lichen ID etc will carry on, differentiated for year groups, and with extra information when requested. 

Basic activities such as tree climbing, hide and seek, and whittling will always be available, and we will continue to expand on the children's interests as their questions and observations arise.

Forest School will remain recognisably the same through Term 3.

Most importantly we will build on teamwork and resilience to help them with their indoor learning and wellbeing... 

and to help get us all through 2021 week by week!