How did our forest area come about?
Over the summer of 2016, an exciting changed happened in our playground. Before summer there was a large amount of land hidden behind some green fences. After a lot of hard research working out who owned the land (four years to be precise) - school council wrote letters to the council and the diocese to request that the land be handed over to the children of St Margaret's. This was later agreed and we set about making our very own woodland forest area.
The area had not been used in a long time so work began on clearing the area. Trees and shrubs were cut down to create a large area at the top of the forest. The fences were taken down and wooden poles were put into place. In the rest of the area the rubbish including mattresses, trollies and many other things were cleared ready for when the children returned. We later added an outdoor classroom for children to go out and learn in.
School council have had a number of ideas about how the area can be used and have requested wooden benches be placed in the woodland forest area. They have also requested that ropes are added to help children climb up and down the slopes. Watch this space as their ideas keep coming!
Work in Progress - August 2016
Our Forest
Our woodland forest has been well used since September...
Nursery have been up picking fruits to make blackberry crumble. They have also been up in the forest to make stick men, been on a bear hunt, made bear caves and loving having Storytime in the Woodland forest.
Reception have been up on an autumn hunt and read the book, leaf man.
Chamber class have been up in to the forest to build campfires and toast marshmallows.
Fox class have used the forest for observing and identifying birds. Collecting leaves and naming trees and a mini beast hunt.
Brook class have used the forest area when we were looking at mother nature in art and collected twigs, leaves etc to then use in our art session.
Twist class have been up into the forest generating ideas for poems and Grace Nichols a poet suggested we go outside in our playground and use our senses. We took textures rubbings and listened to all the different sounds.
Durban have used the forest area, they have been up in to the outside class room for collective worship.
Oak have used the forest area to create bug hotels to increase wildlife and create newspaper articles about them.
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Forest Poetry Collecting Ideas | [pdf 5MB] |
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Nursery Forest Bear Hunt | [pdf 2MB] |
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Forest School Nursery Crumble | [pdf 874KB] |
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Forest School Policy March 2017 | [pdf 260KB] |
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Forest School
Forest School is an inspirational process, that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.
Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.
At Forest School all participants are viewed as:
- equal, unique and valuable
- competent to explore and discover
- entitled to experience appropriate risk and challenge
- entitled to choose, and to initiate and drive their own learning and development
- entitled to experience regular success
- entitled to develop positive relationships with themselves and other people
- entitled to develop a strong, positive relationship with their natural world
This learner-centred approach interweaves with the ever-changing moods and marvels, potential and challenges of the natural world through the seasons to fill every Forest School session and programme with discovery and difference. Yet each programme does also share a common set of principles, aimed at ensuring that all learners experience the cumulative and lasting benefits that quality Forest School offers.
Trim Trail and Outdoor Classroom
Take a look at our amazing outdoor facilities to help improve our children's health and fitness by creating an interesting and challenging environment.