Mama Beech

On rare occasions, we need to cover a Forest School session INSIDE. It may be because the weather prevents a session, it may be a staffing issue, it may be an introduction for children who will find the outdoors challenging, but whatever causes it, there are times when setting up activities in a classroom is suddenly needed. I've said before that I have a large IKEA blue bag that I keep certain activities in, these are not necessarily ones I can/will use in Forest School, like jigsaw puzzles, colouring, cutting out, etc. It's fairly quick to add some of the nature table items, bug ID, and bird guides, etc. into the bag to make what is basically 'nature learning' feel a little like Indoor Forest School! One week in December started with me under the duvet with a fever and headache, and a PCR test pending. School canceled Forest School because waiting each day to decide what the following day's timetable would be was too hectic. So once back in on the Wednesday indoor...

It's been an interesting week! Trying to catch up on a year's worth of admin, making resources, checking over the site, listing what needs to be done, cataloging what is usable and what needs replacing... As always THE most valuable thing any of us possess is TIME! The classes are enjoying their extended sessions. It isn't as rushed and the children are able to take time to explore many more aspects of Forest School as well as enjoy some time with staff to talk, ask questions, and learn a little more. Those children who need to run themselves ragged now get to do so and still have time to settle afterward into a game or activity. The dig pit has actually been empty a couple of times after children created big holes and then went off to do something else. We've had discussions about COP26, about joining a scout group, about what they did in half term. There have been some wishes and suggestions put forward, there have been discoveries and some alliances outdoors between ...

Because Forest School is more of a pedagogy than a subject it is difficult to 'prove' and track 'progress' in the way the education system expects.  As always the type of setting and what is provided will influence this, and there are ways to document activities and demonstrate increased knowledge, but when based in a school often the developments are inside the classroom and not out at basecamp! If our aim is to foster curiosity, build resilience, and create a better attitude to learning, we will never know how well it is working without feedback from class teachers. I have a 'Progression of Skills' sheet which I use as a list that ensures I cover all skills across a year. The children are invited to investigate each activity, supported in learning, and able to revisit independently or supervised (depending on the activity), but participation is not mandatory! For the last year, ALL our Primary Pupils have been having Forest School sessions, that's approxim...