At Holy Cross, we are passionate about learning beyond the classroom and believe that our Forest School is an essential part of the learning process for all our pupils. We recognise the crucial role Forest School plays in supporting pupil wellbeing and mental health, giving children a calm, natural space to develop resilience, confidence, and positive relationships.
Forest School is delivered in blocks of five or six weekly sessions, each consisting of whole afternoons led by a fully qualified Forest School teacher. All classes, from Reception through to Year 6, take part in Forest School across the year.
What is the Forest Schools Approach?
This approach came from a passion for nature that the Scandinavians call ‘friluftsliv’ (pronounced free-loofts-liv). The expression literally translates as ‘open-air living’, and is seen as a way of life in Scandinavia where Forest School began. It arrived in the UK in 1993 and has grown from strength to strength since then. Activities are child initiated, allowing the children to explore the outdoors and make choices about their own learning. The practitioner’s role is to observe and support the natural curiosity children have for the world around them, enabling the children to decide what they are interested in and what they want to do. The benefits are many and will include the opportunity for children to:
- develop their personal and social skills
- develop their language and communication skills
- develop practical skills and improve physical motor skills
- work through practical problems and challenges
- use tools to create, build or manage
- pursue knowledge that interests them
- build confidence in decision making
- evaluate risk
- explore connections between humans, wildlife and the earth
- reflect on learning and experiences
- regularly experience achievement and success which will lead to motivation
- learn how to manage failures
- discover how they learn best
- improve their concentration skills
- understand the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle
How does our Forest School approach fit within our school's values and vision for our pupils?
“One school family, achieving together, anchored in the love of Christ.”
Forest School at Holy Cross is fully aligned with our mission and our values of Kindness, Confidence, and Excellence. Through Forest School, children can thrive and achieve in different ways, growing into responsible and caring citizens with a strong moral compass.
- Kindness — children learn to respect insects, plants, and wildlife, care for the environment, and treat one another with empathy and consideration.
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Confidence — children build self-belief and perseverance through safe, controlled risk-taking, whether using tools or tackling challenges in all weathers.
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Excellence — children have the freedom to lead their own learning and pursue their own inquiries, promoting collaborative thinking and a sense of pride in their achievements.