With our beautiful surroundings we have the wonderful opportunity for each class to have a forest school lesson once a week for 3 half terms over the year. Our Forest School follows the six principles of Forest School. These are set out on the FSA website and provide the scaffolding for the forest school ethos.

The 6 Principles of Forest School

1. Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits. The cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
2. Forest School takes place in a natural or woodland environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship between the learner and the natural world.
3. Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
4. Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
5. Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
6. Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.

Activities available include making flower presses to make bookmarks, elder bracelet and wood cookie pendant making, shelter building, whittling tent pegs and stick people and working with willow to create crowns, hats and story sticks. Children will have the opportunity to learn a variety of knots and lashings, learn how to make a fire safely and use tools to create. Other activities include the mud kitchen, tree climbing and wading in the stream.

St. Leonard's Forest School Handbook and Policy