This months Forest School blog post is brought to you by the wonderful mother and daughter team at Sam Goldsworthy Childminding.

One of our favourite outings that we provide is definitely Forest School which has become a weekly ritual in our setting. We use the same woodlands where the children have become familiar with their surroundings. This works to stimulate the children’s learning, resilience and skills and enrich their experiences and everyday lives. The children will look at the visual timetable in the setting and get very excited when they see ‘forest school’. This in turn encourages children to become self independent in dressing themselves with wellies and waterproofs.

One of our favourite outings that we provide is definitely Forest School which has become a weekly ritual in our setting. We use the same woodlands where the children have become familiar with their surroundings. This works to stimulate the children’s learning, resilience and skills and enrich their experiences and everyday lives. The children will look at the visual timetable in the setting and get very excited when they see ‘forest school’. This in turn encourages children to become self independent in dressing themselves with wellies and waterproofs.

We still attend Forest School sessions throughout the year we just adapt them to different seasons and weather conditions such as incorporating den building. Here in Cornwall the weather can be very unpredictable with it raining one minute and sunny the next, but this doesn’t prevent the children from being outdoors and exploring nature with such comfort and enjoyment.

Forest school is a crucial part of our ethos and the childrens everyday lives. It provides different learning opportunities. Recently we have made: nature planes, love bugs, nature mobiles and continuously use our ‘Forest School TV’. The children take it in turns to find a natural treasure and ‘showcase’ it to their friends – showing their leaf knowledge and respect for their peers.

The children are becoming increasingly confident and aware of health and safety when using the tools to help them create their forest crafts. They are able to name the tools, wait their turn, appreciate their friends efforts and own individual achievements.