“The best classroom and the richest classroom is roofed only by the sky.”
Margaret McMillan
Forest School is a wondrous journey, a unique pathway to outdoor enlightenment designed to nurture confidence and self-esteem through immersive experiences in the embrace of woodlands and natural landscapes.
At Cotsford, Forest School offers children the delightful opportunity to engage in new, creative adventures amidst the great outdoors, all within a safe and nurturing setting. Here, young explorers will discover the beauty of the natural world, learn the art of embracing risks, and, most importantly, harness their own initiative to tackle challenges, collaborate with peers, and forge bonds as a united team, guided by our enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable staff. Currently, children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 have weekly forest learning lessons.
Just look at how much fun they are having…
So much more than the national curriculum
While outdoor learning at forest school has the potential to teach children about biology, geography and other national curriculum topics, in fact, learning outdoors provides an opportunity to teach so much more than the national curriculum.
When learning outdoors, children interact differently than when in the structured and rule-based classroom. They are freer to move, to make more noise and to behave differently.
The outdoor environment challenges children in different ways, so that those who do well in the classroom are not always the same as those who thrive outdoors. Personal, social and emotional development are seen as being at least as important, if not more so, than the national curriculum.
Forest School takes place outdoors whatever the weather (except in thunderstorms and very high winds) therefore it is crucial that your child has appropriate warm, waterproof clothing and suitable footwear. These can be left in a bag in your child’s locker, but we will endeavour to send them home if your child gets wet or muddy during their session.
Appropriate clothing required for Forest School:
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old jogging bottoms/trousers (not jeans)
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old jumper
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Hat
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Gloves
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Waterproof jacket and ideally waterproof trousers
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Wellington boots or Old trainers with thick socks
In the near future, we plan on looking at ways to raise money so that we have wellies and waterproofs in school but until then, we really appreciate your support ensuring your children have their kit in school.
