Mama Beech

As the world struggles to get back to some kind of normal taking children outside is increasingly being recognised as a necessity and not just good practice. It really doesn't matter if the children go outside to play cricket, to do Forest School, have an extended playtime, take a lesson outside, or do something specific for the day. Let's be honest, you can't peek into a nesting box while in the classroom! I keep saying that Forest School is just one form of outdoor learning, and this week was an opportunity to prove that with Outdoor Classroom Day: 'Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement to make time outdoors part of every child’s day. On two days of action each year, teachers take children outdoors to play and learn. All year round, the Outdoor Classroom Day community campaigns for more time outdoors every day.' The next date will be in the Autumn so if you haven't already - now is a good time to sign up ! With a remit that literally means exiting 4 walls...

I know a lot of Forest School Leaders take extra time and effort to ensure there is a specific activity each session for the children to join in with. Occasionally I have something specific I'd like to do with the children, but mostly the provision is there for them to use to follow their own activity . I, therefore, am free to help them follow their own learning, respond to what they ask, and extend their interests. The ever-present resources are for 'Bug Hunting', 'Bird exploration', and 'What's Growing'. Most sessions will also include books and basic woodwork tools, as well as a 'Nature Table', which sounds ridiculous outdoors but works well. All these are dotted around Basecamp. Adjacent to this we have a large digging area with gardening tools, plus mud kitchen equipment. None of this is left out in Forest School, despite being on school grounds, but because our site is ours alone, we do have a storage container where we can keep  these ite...

I know - Term is over, chocolate Eggs have been eaten, Passover and Easter have been and gone, family celebrations are easing out and new regulations about meeting friends ease in! I have no Forest School news to report EXCEPT for letting those of you on Twitter know there is a new Outdoor Learning chat starting on Thursdays from 8 - 9 The page is called Outdoor Ed Chat and the hashtag is # OutdoorEdChat This should be a great space to share news and ideas, moan and groan, get inspired, have some fun, and seek advice! The account is run by the great  Bluebell Matt  and  Sam LEAF   The more people interested in Outdoor Learning that join in the wider the knowledge base, so if you are a Tweety-Peep - consider joining in!     

Tomorrow is the Spring Equinox. Whatever the weather is throwing at the UK at the moment we are hurtling towards April and Winter has passed. There is so much to do and so little time in which to get anything done! Blowing gales and 'unauthorised visitors' leave a wake across school grounds, the outdoor environment needs maintaining to ensure that previous hard work and development isn't lost, and the evolvement of the site needs planning. Seasons change and bring new challenges to the outdoor area, these are set in nature and a learning resource to be harvested. It's something Forest School has no choice but to use, our 'classroom' is deciduous, we are open to the elements, we have to work with the rain or the snow and alter our activities to either accommodate or to celebrate the differences.  Finding an ants nest is a learning opportunity, the discovery of an eggshell beneath a tree is a learning opportunity, watching a pheasant strut out of the bushes is a l...

Next week School and therefore Forest School will be open to all students.  This weekend the staff of an entire education system will brace themselves for the unknown! It will be great to have smiling faces back in classrooms, but the assessment needed, the short term and long terms plans required to move forward, and the expected spectrum of needs, is going to take a lot of management!  As of next week 14 classes will be taking shortened Forest School sessions in the 'woods' in an attempt to continue the Outdoor Learning journey some have been aboard all year, and to reintroduce those who have had a break from it. The aim is to use this time to allow space and freedom to follow self-chosen learning for all. Encouraging movement and exercise for those who have been housebound, and an emotional outlet for those who need to connect with nature, can only serve to make the children healthier, and time to talk for those who have things to say can only make them happier. Once again ...

When I switched to two days on site and two days working from home I thought I might get bored.... Whereas over four days I would usually facilitate 14x75min Forest School Sessions, fitting planning and admin in around them, now I have 7 sessions on site and 2 days at home doing the paperwork etc. Adhering to the 'essential travel' only guidance I don't travel 50 miles to use the school computer, and as I have no classroom, just basecamp, I usually open up the laptop in the staff room while at school. Again, I now don't spend any time in the staff room unless it's to grab a cuppa! I don't need to loiter in the building at all. But as we all know, the danger of paperwork at home is that it's not a 9-5 log on! Last week I scanned in over 200 documents at home, old Nature Detective  sheets and other guides, information, and spotter pictures that I have collected over the years, many that I can no longer find online! Having scanned them, I spent the following da...