Mama Beech

Most of the time I keep this blog quite light. Generally, I assume I'm preaching to the converted, and the people who pop by and read this don't need convincing that Forest School has many benefits, although occasionally, I do add links to research and bang on a bit about some aspect or another.  There is no real 'aim' of this blog except to document what we do and how. It's a record of tried and tested successes and failures that we've learned from, and a little bit of an explanation as to why we do it at all.  The start of a new school year is a huge learning curve for children. Six or seven weeks away from the routine of school means the children need to re-engage with school life, moving up a year alters expectations, and being a little older assumes a little more maturity, but each class has gone back to the start of being in year 1, or year 2, or year 3, etc, and has a path ahead of them to become settled 'old hands' at being in their year group. S...

As leaders, we spend a lot of time anticipating and facilitating the area and the activities. We react to the children's curiosity, investigation, and interests. We encourage them to do a little extra, explore a little further, and discover a little more. We respond to requests and questions, discuss possibilities, introduce ideas and information, and we follow the lead of the children. On bad days we are patrolling and constantly reminding children to stay safe, or be kind, or to adhere to boundaries. Those days are not frequent, but children will always bring class disagreements and personal feelings to basecamp, and even if it's resolved before they arrive, they cannot always shake off the negative hangover from it. Occasionally a session can struggle to get past playground squabbles no matter what space, communication, or support the adults offer. On good days we move from group to group, individual to couple, observing what they are doing, ensuring they are safe, and aimin...