Forest School
At RKPS we are an outdoor learning school and we have an exceptional Forest School being led by Mr Wescott. Forest school is a long-term educational approach where learners regularly visit a natural woodland environment to engage in hands-on, child-led activities that foster personal, social, emotional, and intellectual growth. It promotes confidence, resilience, and a deep connection to nature through experiences with manageable risks, problem-solving, and supported risk-taking.
Each class has a block of sessions each year and enable a sustained impact across the school.
Key Principles & Focus
Child-Centred:
Learning is driven by the needs, interests, and strengths of the individual child.
Hands-On Experiences:
Children learn by doing, engaging in practical activities like building shelters, crafting with natural objects, and exploring.
Long-Term Engagement:
Regular, sustained contact with the forest setting is crucial, allowing for observation of changes and development over time.
Holistic Growth:
The goal is to develop the whole child, fostering confidence, independence, self-awareness, and social skills.
Supported Risk-Taking:
Children are encouraged to take safe, supported risks, leading to increased confidence and resilience.
How Learning Happens
Play-Based Exploration:
Children are given opportunities for self-directed, open-ended play in a natural setting.
Nature-Based Activities:
Activities can include building, climbing, exploring ecosystems, identifying plants and animals, and creating art from natural materials.
Developing Skills:
Practitioners facilitate learning, helping children develop practical bushcraft skills, communication, and creative problem-solving.
Connecting to the Curriculum:
Forest School can be a powerful way to bring academic subjects to life through real-world experiences.
Due to the nature of the environment and activities, it is important that children come prepared with a change of shoes, long trousers and a coast during colder months.
Schedule
The class schedule for the Autumn Term is attached below:
