Forest School

What is outdoor learning?

Working, Learning and Playing in the outdoors. Using nature and the woods to teach the importance of conservation and the part nature and the outdoors plays in wider life.

Offering opportunities to build Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem and Resilience. Outdoor learning provides the opportunity for the pupils to take risks in a safe and controlled environment.

Outdoor learning will:

• Encourage exploration and discovery
• Allow for experience of appropriate challenge and risk
• Allow the participant to be in control of their own learning
• Develop positive relationships with others
• Help them learn about themselves
• Develop a positive relationship with the natural world

Intent

Muntham House School aims to use the natural outdoor woodland area to offer the pupils an insight into the Forest School ethos. This approach to outdoor learning encourages our pupils to become independent, use their imagination, take appropriate risks within boundaries, become creative, develop social skills and initiate learning for themselves. Forest School is a holistic approach to learning, incorporating pupils' individuality and developing their skills for lifelong learning. It can cover many areas of learning, including emotional aspects where self-esteem and self-confidence can grow, and positive relationships with peers can be formed. Forest School explores the outdoors and the natural environment with practical, useful activities all year round. It develops peer learning with the adults providing support and enabling activities to take place. The pupil’s interest will be at the heart of any activity.

Implementation

Forest School is an additional subject taught here at Muntham House School. Each session will be delivered by a level 3 qualified Forest School Leader. Depending on the year group being taught depends on whether the sessions are held in the upper or lower forest school area. Years 7 and 8 will be taught in the upper forest school area, while the infants and juniors will be taught in the lower Forest School area. Forest school is a ‘pupil-led subject’, meaning the pupils are able to have large inputs to the content of lessons. However, due to the nature of the pupils at Muntham, there needs to remain a structure to each lesson which the Forest School Leader is responsible for. If pupils show a particular interest in an area of outdoor learning, then the Forest School Leader will facilitate this learning.

Impact

The progress of pupils is monitored through progress data. This is updated regularly and provides the Forest School Lead with the progress of pupils which then influences the planning of future lessons. Although there is no formal summative assessment for Forest School, pupils do undergo formative assessment. This is conducted each lesson through discussions, debates and questions to gauge the pupil’s understanding and also helps towards the input for progress data. Formative assessment can also provide the Forest School Lead with information for future planning and where pupils maybe struggling or behind.

CURRICULUM MAP - FOREST SCHOOL Y7 / Y8                                       FOREST SCHOOL POLICY

The Curriculum

Fire Building	Nature Education	Explore Senses	Natural Materials Craft
Pioneering + Building Projects	Cooking	Den Building	Mini Beasts
Working Together	Conservation	Build Resilience	Self Confidence

What does it look like

Using the 23 acres at our disposal with a woodland camp and designated outdoor classroom.

A planned outdoor curriculum that crosses all core subjects. Through using the woods, land, wildlife and imaginative, creative and adventurous activities.

Woodland Code

Respect the environment, what we take into the woods we must take out with us
Never break anything off a living tree or plant as it still needs it, only collect items from the floor
Listen to the adults they will keep you safe
Never touch or taste anything until you know it’s safe
Fire is dangerous and needs to be treated with respect follow the adult’s instructions
Only use tools, saws and knives within the tool area and with an adult
If someone is being unsafe and not listening the group will wait and the staff will manage it
Have fun and enjoy the outdoors!