Forest School is the perfect environment to get your child ready for school

Based on PACEY research, along with parents and other professionals in childcare, school readiness means:

* Creating strong social skills

* Can cope emotionally with being separated from their parents

* Are relatively independent in their own personal care

* Have a curiosity about the world and a desire to learn

Risky play such as climbing trees or balancing on logs gives children the opportunity to learn about boundaries, self regulation and keeping themselves safe.  By taking risks, children learn about resilience, having a go and perseverance.  

Being outside in a natural environment impacts our well-being, mental health and sense of self. It is a place where we can balance understanding our world with self-discovery, risk taking, experimentation and exploration.  

The evaluation from forestresearch.gov.uk has found that Forest School makes improvements in the following ways:

Confidence

Children had the freedom, time and space to learn and demonstrate independence

Social Skills

Children gained increased awareness of the consequences of their actions on peers through team activities such as sharing tools and participating in play

Communication

Language development was prompted by the children's sensory experiences

Motivation

The natural environment tended to fascinate the children and they developed a keenness to participate and the ability to concentrate over longer periods of time

Physical Skills

These improvements were characterised by the development of physical stamina and gross and fine motor skills

Knowledge and Understanding

The children developed an interest in the natural surroundings and respect for the environment

“A child can hold a pencil, write their own name, count to 100 or recognise all the colours and shapes, but if they don’t know how to make friends, manage their emotions, resolve conflict, to be independent and have self-help skills, none of the other stuff matters.” - The Curiosity Approach

"The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky" - Margaret McMillan

"Forest Schools offer a unique educational experience using the outdoor environment as a classroom" - forestresearch.gov.uk