What Is Forest School - Forest School Association

What is Forest School?
Forest School is an inspirational process, that o⸹㘠ers ALL learners

regular opportunities to achieve and develop conHdence and
self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a
woodland or natural environment with trees.
Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within

and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland
education.
‘Forest School is a feeling you can’t put into words.' Tonicha,

aged 9
The ethos is shared by thousands of trained practitioners across

the UK and beyond. Its roots reach back to early years pioneers
in outdoor learning and across the sea to Scandinavia.
‘I don’t have ADHD when I`m out in the woods.’ David, aged 14
At Forest School all participants are viewed as:
equal, unique and valuable

competent to explore & discover
entitled to experience appropriate risk and challenge
entitled to choose, and to initiate and drive their own learning and development
entitled to experience regular success
entitled to develop positive relationships with themselves and other people
entitled to develop a strong, positive relationship with their natural world
This learner-centred approach interweaves with the ever-changing moods and marvels, potential
and challenges of the natural world through the seasons to Hll every Forest School session and
programme with discovery and di⸹㘠erence. Yet each programme does also share a common set of
principles, aimed at ensuring that all learners experience the cumulative and lasting beneHts that
quality Forest School o⸹㘠ers.
Principles of Forest School

These principles were Hrst articulated by the Forest School Community in 2002. They were reviewed
in 2011 and sent out for a 5-month consultation to Forest School networks and practitioners in all
UK nations. They were published on the Institute for Outdoor Learning Forest School SIG page in Feb
2012, and in the minutes of the GB trainers’ network.
FS is a long-term process of regular sessions,

rather than a one-o⸹㘠 or infrequent visits; the
cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and
review links each session.
FS takes place in a woodland or natural
environment to support the development of a
relationship between the learner and the natural
world.
FS uses a range of learner-centred processes to
create a community for being, development and
learning.
FS aims to promote the holistic development of all
those involved, fostering resilient, conHdent,
independent and creative learners.
FS o⸹㘠ers learners the opportunity to take
supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
FS is run by qualiHed Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and
develop their professional practice. See the full principles and criteria for good practice.
This ethos creates learning communities where deep-level learning and progression are the norm.
Below, we’ve collected some recent examples of ‘Forest School moments' from some of our directors
to illustrate the kinds of things that often happen at Forest School.
You can also visit Forest School myth busting for information on what Forest School is not!
There are 2 main routes to establishing a Forest School programme for your group:
1. Employ (or contract in the services) of an existing Level 3 Forest School practitioner (see 'How to
choose a FS leader')
2. Train one of your existing sta⸹㘠 to become a Level 3 Forest School practitioner (see 'How to choose
a FS trainer')
We aim to provide FSA endorsement programmes for leaders and trainers in the future, but for now
the links above should help you. Do join us if you'd like to be part of our e⸹㘠orts to promote quality
Forest School for all.
Forest School moments . . .

Jon Cree: ‘I observed a group of reception children at a rural primary school recently. One boy made his
feelings of connection with nature abundantly clear by showing me his ‘be tree’: the place where, in his
words, he could simply be – incredible for a four-year-old.
In the afternoon it was the turn of some year 4 children. It was their sixth session, and it was fantastic to
watch. They clearly knew the site well, were aware of their boundaries and understood what was safe and
unsafe. So they just went and got on with all sorts of purposeful play: exploring, taking on challenges and
using their imaginations, while all the time managing the risks for themselves.
The risks involved may not just be physical: they can also be emotional. In one lovely scene, some boys and
girls were acting out an improvised wedding scene complete with mud pie cake. The ‘couple’ had a row
and called it o⸹㘠 at the last minute – quite a daring and emotionally risky activity for a mixed-gender group,
especially given that it was a Church of England school!
The children’s engagement in their projects pointed to a deeper sense of themselves, a sense of place and a
meaningful connection with the natural world. Educators could see their children’s conHdence grow: for
instance, one boy who has a stammer in class was speaking completely clearly when he was out of doors.'
Aline Hill: 'I spent weeks parallel playing with a young girl (4) who had chosen not to speak to any adults
at her nursery since she had started six months previously. We painted trees with water, pretended to be
birds, and watched slugs and snails making their slow way around the woods. In Week 5 I asked Lily if she
thought my clay model snail was Hnished. She shook her head and mimed feelers. I added them
immediately.
In Week 6, I noticed her watching a tree intently. Moving closer, I saw that she was holding a snail up to a
thick trail of ants that was streaming up the tree. As if it was the most unremarkable thing in the world,
she asked me ‘Why aren’t they scared?’
'Because the snail is bigger?' I asked in return. She nodded.
Choosing to lead with information, I told her that snails ate plants and didn't hurt ants so they weren't
scared. The ants know that even though the snail is big, there's nothing for them to be scared of. Lily
watched the ants for a bit longer. She spoke to me three more times during that session. Over the next few
weeks, more and more of the sta⸹㘠 heard her voice . . . and she’s still talking!'
Clair Hobson: 'You’ll have to watch this one’ said an accompanying teacher. ‘He has been thrown out of
every class in the school – we just don`t know what to do with him.’
Max was 14 and on the Autistic Spectrum – he struggled with relationships and the environment in which
he was being taught. The Forest School programme was truly amazing for him and he went from strength
to strength over the weeks. His progress was humbling to see as he found his natural strengths – the
positive learning experiences gave new opportunities for everyone (teachers as well) to see Max in a
di⸹㘠erent and positive light. He said he ‘felt free’. The positive ripple e⸹㘠ect was felt back in school.
A year later, his mother wrote to me. She is studying to become a teacher and wanted to know more about
Forest School, as this was the most successful learning experience her son had ever had throughout his
education. She wished he could have been with us full time! Of course, if budgets were made available,
young people like Max could be!
Jon Cree: 'just last month I was assessing a trainee leader, Laura, in a Dudley reception class with
predominantly ‘English as an Additional Language’ pupils. After about 10 minutes, a child grabbed me by
the hand.
‘Jon, come and look at my new home.’ (He had been working on a shelter the previous week.)
‘Great . . . its a bit cold in here.’
‘Yes, it’s wet and drafty.’ (This was a cold, windy, wet West Midlands day! But I did think to myself – good
language.)
‘Mmm’,15 seconds silence. (This is important: teachers on average give maximum 5 seconds thinking time
(Kontos, 1999))
‘I need a door’.
'Have you any door shapes in mind?’
At least a minute’s silence, wandering around and thinking had gone on.
Laura asked, ‘Do you remember the shapes we were looking at last week in the
class’.
'Ahh – a rectangle. That’s the one with two long and two short.'
The child then went o⸹㘠 to Hnd two long sticks and two short. He then mused a long time and came over to
me again.
‘Not sure how to join these.’
‘Would you like me to help?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you have any ideas on how to join them.’
‘Mmmm’, (more silence) ‘string!’
And lo and behold without any prompting from either me or Laura he asked her for string, which she
asked her assistant to get from the classroom. The child ended up making a door he was very proud of
(still drafty, mind!).
While this may seem a small incident, for Laura, who is clearly a skilled early years practitioner, it was
symptomatic of a huge shift from being ‘on top’ to ‘on tap’. She admitted she had to Hght all her instincts to
intervene and show him what he might do. The resulting learning from her point of view, and the child’s,
was far more powerful. What he had done was take ownership of the learning, invested his own thoughts
into the door and applied learning inside the classroom to a real life situation outside the classroom.'
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What is Forest School?

Forest School is an inspirational process, that o⸹㘠ers ALL learners

Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within

‘Forest School is a feeling you can’t put into words.' Tonicha,

The ethos is shared by thousands of trained practitioners across

‘I don’t have ADHD when I`m out in the woods.’ David, aged 14

At Forest School all participants are viewed as:

equal, unique and valuable

Principles of Forest School

FS is a long-term process of regular sessions,

Forest School moments . . .

'Because the snail is bigger?' I asked in return. She nodded.

Share 1.1K Tweet Share 27 10  More

26 thoughts on “What is Forest School?”

Pingback: Guiding principles of Forest School | Earth Force Education

Pingback: What is a Forest School? | Forest Schools

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