Forest School
Exploring, discovering and playing outdoors and in the natural environment is crucial to a child’s experience of joy, wonder and adventure. We are inspired by the Scandinavian approach to learning, placing greater emphasis on the outdoors to encourage a greater sense of themselves and the world around them.
Tandridge Village Pre-school runs its fantastic Forest school all through the academic year and through all seasons. If we can be outdoors we will! We strongly believe it is important for our children to understand the nature of change throughout the year, and to begin to learn how our environment adapts to each season.
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Every child in our older ‘Oaks’ group has the opportunity to attend Forest School. Each half-termly block consists of six sessions to which a maximum of eight children are invited to attend. Appropriate waterproof clothing is essential for children to feel comfortable and get maximum enjoyment from sessions (waterproofs are available to borrow if families do not have them). Packed lunches are brought in by parents so that the children can, as a group, eat outdoors with the rustle of leaves and the peck of a woodpecker as entertainment.
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What is Forest Schooling?
Forest schooling is a process, which builds on an individual’s innate motivation and positive attitude to learning, offering children the opportunity to take risks, make choices and initiate learning for themselves.
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Forest Schooling aims to give everybody the opportunity to develop an inquisitive and positive relationship with the natural world, have fun and enjoy themselves.
Forest Schooling helps develop confidence and self-esteem, communication and social skills, physical and mental dexterity and resilience.
“Forest schooling is like a walk in the forest with a very long stop in the middle to explore and play”.
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If you just want to find out a bit more about forest schools and how they work, please contact us for a copy of our parent handbook and guide to a typical forest school day or download here.
