The outdoor environment is a rich, dynamic and natural space for learning and development in children of all ages and is an essential learning resource within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), particularly within the principle of ‘Enabling Environments’.

 

·         Being outdoors has a positive impact on children's sense of well-being and helps all aspects of children's development.

·         Being outdoors offers opportunities for doing things in different ways and on different scales than when indoors.

·         It gives children first-hand contact with weather, seasons and the natural world.

·         Outdoor environments offer children freedom to explore, use their senses, and be physically active and exuberant.

·         Children can learn to make decisions, solve problems and grow in confidence in their own abilities outdoors and they need plenty of time to investigate their outdoor environment purposefully. They will make predictions about what may happen based on their previous play experiences and test out these ideas and theories.’

 

Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.  The sessions take place in the local woodland or in our own outdoor area in all weathers to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.

The activities offer children the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.

 

Valuing risk in outdoor play

Through our Forest School activities we work particularly hard with the children to teach them about managing risks without it getting in the way of or stopping valuable learning opportunities. 

Children both need and want to take risks in order to explore limits, venture into new experiences and develop their capacities.  Outdoor play and risk go hand-in-hand and children do not always realise their own limitations or the limitations of the environment that surrounds them. As the children develop we aim to support them to make choices about what is safe to attempt and what is not.  Children need and instinctively want to be able to take risks in order that they can test their abilities and strengths. What better environment for them to do so than through Forest School activities.  

 

 

Make a free website with Yola