What is Forest School?

If you’ve ever been curious as to what a forest school is, why your school provides one, and its benefits, then look no further. In this guide we explore what a forest school does to help children with their progression and their impact in schools that this nursery in London shares with us.

What does a Forest School involve?

A forest school is exactly as it involves – a school area that is set within a forest area or in a garden area or fields within the school grounds. While a forest is the usual setting for these classrooms, sometimes a school can’t achieve this and can make outdoor learning areas that still cater to the benefits a forest school brings.

Being in the great outdoors encourages a child to think with their imagination, work on their social skills and also become one with nature. It’s a popular school session used in Scandinavian schools that have become popular in the UK for almost 20 years.

What a Forest School helps children with

Forest schools have been referred to time and time again as a development tool for children with a different range of learning capabilities, and has been referenced as a good tool for children with special learning requirements. There’s a number of learning processes used that bring children together to work on teamwork, relationship building, communication and general social skills. It’s also proven to help children with their creativity skills and appreciation for the great outdoors.

Forest schools also help children become aware of areas where they need more focus, and it builds their confidence with interacting with the outside world. Moral values also come into this, which gives children the awareness of how they can grow to be established and well behaved young adults in the future.

What are the benefits of Forest Schools?

There are heaps of benefits to forest schools that children will experience. The biggest benefit may be one of the most obvious: your child is getting outdoors and exploring the world around them. Becoming one with nature is a big benefit that children should explore.

Children are able to tap into their unique skills and will get the chance to use problem solving and decision making skills in real time. With this practice, your child will inadvertently become more confident in their own abilities and become accepting of their strengths and possible weaknesses. It also makes kids happier to be learning in a different environment, away from the usual classroom setting and having fun with their friends and teachers.