Forest School
"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful." E.E. Cummings
A stimulating woodland setting for children to grow, explore and develop a love of nature
Enhancing learning by taking it outside the classroom is a core value at Walhampton. We are fortunate to have a Forest School within our stunning hundred acre grounds. This means that every child has opportunities to go outside, work within a team and be closer to the natural world. With regular visits taking place from Kindergarten onwards, whatever the weather. Forest School activities build confidence, self esteem, and offer close-up experiences of nature, life cycles and wildlife. Children develop practical skills, improve their communication and understand teamwork by constructing shelters, working with tools and building fires. These activities take place in a totally safe and controlled environment where they can start to assess and take risks for themselves.
We have found that Forest School and outdoor learning inspires our children to work more creatively and reflectively. Their first-hand experience of the natural world enriches a thirst for knowledge and develops their confidence to ask searching and thoughtful questions
What you need to know
Forest School visits are timetabled weekly for Kindergarten and Reception, and every fortnight for Years 1 and 2, with the children spending the whole morning in the woods. By exploring nature and working together - climbing, collecting, shelter-building, cooking and more - the children have experiences that directly support their literacy, numeracy, descriptive writing and articulate conversational skills. They also have opportunities to make independent choices, to initiate learning in their own time, and to sit and reflect.
For Kindergarten, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children
Complements and extends the academic curriculum
Deeper learning through hands on exploration
Promotes confidence, independence and raises self-esteem
Waterproofs provided
