Beginnings & Endings

Recently, I was at a party with a few people whose children I don't know. Inevitably, I was asked what I do for a living and I gave an answer, followed by an explanation! 

Every single parent lit up and exclaimed 'my child would love that!'. Then followed the 'she loves growing things and nature', 'he loves animals of all kinds, he can name all the bugs', 'she loves a mud kitchen and is always covered in mud', 'he loves birds', and 'you can't keep her out of our apple tree!' comments.

A few of those I spoke to went off determined to find a Forest School near them, some had already started to Google Forest School on their phone, others were surprised that we provide Forest School IN school.

Last month we also had our meetings for Parent's whose children start at our Primary School in September. Forest School is embedded at Chartham so are included in, and provide the venue for, the Welcome Meetings.

Here I gave a brief idea of what the children do, and why we do it. Again, as parents took the opportunity to wander through they eyfs classrooms, I was regaled with stories, anecdotes, and assurances, of children who love nature.

Children's interested in exploring the world around them is evident. It's charming. It's amazing to watch them learn all the bird names they can, to retain unusual facts about bugs, and to develop a love for being outdoors.

Forest School is a big part of what we do in Chartham Primary School, and we know the children love it and benefit from it, and we know parents frequently choose our school because of it. 

In young children we watch their fascination with the environment they are in, encourage it, build on it, and celebrate it. 6 year olds want to be vets, 8 year olds want to be explorers, 10 year olds want conservationists...

At the other end of the school career, Year 6 are hurtling towards the end of their Primary School life. They're excited, nervous, eager, and anxious to move on. They're engulfed in the chaos of the end of year production, they've received their end of school hoodies (and are wearing them in all temperatures!), their chatter is rapid, their laughter easy, their patience waning... 

And for all of them Forest School is about to cease.

Despite the fact that the inate connection parents recognise in young children, the curiosity the children display, and the years of building on it that have happened in Primary school, the vast majority of children moving on to secondary school will no longer be able to join in at a Forest School.

For some of our pupils that is 4 solid years of Forest School foundations. Through adaptation due to covid, and trials of timetables etc. most of our Year 6 children have had at least 3 terms of weekly Forest School sessions each year since they began Year 2. 

In Year 7 it vanishes. 

Yet all the skills that have been taught, the self esteem, the confidence, motivation, etc are needed more than ever as they face new buildings, new teachers, new friends. 

Not for the first time I plea with Secondary Schools to weave Forest School into their transition strategy. Many of the Primary around you have either the facilities, the expertise, the staffing, or the opportunity (if not all 4) for helping you to work out a way to make it happen.

We know we need children and young adults to connect to nature and focus on sustainability and this subject, along with move towards a Natural History GCSE, numerous other geograpic and scientific factors that have to be learnt in KS3 are intrinsic within Forest School. 

It's well known that statistically childhood interest in nature dips as they approach their teenage years. The emerging into adolescence, the change in demands and expectations take a toll, but so does the lack of access to spending time outdoors! 

The children never stop progressing in their personal growth. Last week a child in year 6 finally climbed a tree. It's taken years of watching, one or two attempts, and a sudden seizing of the moment. After 4 years, at the age of 11, the courage and opportunity were suddenly perfect. This new found confidence needs to be built on. The knock back that may well come in September could be easier to cope with if there was some continuity. If the unease at all things new was supported by something this child (and all the others) are confident about.

So as our Year 6 classes enter their final 3 weeks of Primary School, and their final 3 Forest School sessions, we will celebrate. Celebrate all things Forest School, celebrate growing up. Celebrate moving on. Celebrate new beginnings.

And quietly mourn an ending.