Forest school is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners the opportunity to learn through experience in a woodland setting. Stepping away from the constraints of the four walls our unique woodland grounds allow children time and space to initiate their own learning.
Forest School allows children to take part in controlled risks, investigate, use tools, and explore the natural environment.
Forest school activities and outdoor learning activities that take place are based around our Nursery Curriculum and the Forest School Pedagogy. This allows for a flexible approach to learning accommodating a range of learning styles and schemas.
Scandinavian-style forest schools and nurseries are spreading all around the world. Outdoor learning is increasingly seen as an important way of connecting children with nature.
A great number of studies have shown that spending time in natural spaces has many health and psychological benefits for children, such as reduced obesity, improved mental wellbeing, increased resilience and faster cognitive development.
It can also encourage the development of environmentally conscious behaviour by fostering an appreciation and respect for the natural world.
At Lee Royd we are very excited to be at the beginning of our Forest School journey. Our amazing woodland area is currently being developed with new trees, hedges, fruit trees, a bug hotel, bee hotels, and a wildflower garden! Children assist in the planting of trees, and by doing so develop a sense of belonging to our school community. We aim to boost biodiversity in our woodland and help children to establish respect for nature.
I am sure our children will be experts at planting by the time it is Spring when the real gardening begins. Children will be deciding what fruit and vegetables to plant in our new allotment. If you would like to donate any seedlings/ cuttings or would like more information about our current Forest School projects please contact Ms Smith on the details below.
Please Remember – “Children do not catch colds from playing and being outside. Colds are caught from viruses and children need to develop physical wellbeing and strong immune systems to combat these. Playing outdoors supports physical health and wellbeing.”
Forest School in the U.K is based on a rich heritage that goes back to the 19th Century. Philosophers, naturalists and educators in Europe and U.K who founded the Woodcraft Folk in 1925 were the inspiration for the first outdoor education centres.
The Lee Royd site has a green belt on the school grounds and all the trees on our site and our neighbours Rough Lee Care Home are protected under Tree Protection Orders( TPOs).
Intergenerational programs provide learning opportunities, care and social support for children and older people in the same setting at the same time. There are many benefits for older people, research reports that bringing young and older people together can boost children’s well-being, language use, their social interaction and change attitudes towards ageing.
Children involved in intergenerational projects have better reading and communication skills, are more ‘School-ready’ and show more empathy.
