Welcome to Lenthall Forest School

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1 Welcome to Lenthall Forest School This guide is designed to answer your questions about Lenthall Forest School as well as giving guidance so that your child can enjoy their Forest School experience. We are delighted to let you know that all Forest School sessions at Lenthall are led by a fully qualified Level 3 Forest School Practitioner who holds a full Paediatric and Outdoor First Aid Certificate. Each week children from across the school take part in Forest School sessions. We are developing a sense of discovery in an imaginative and creative way and learn respect for ourselves, each other and the environment. Our lessons encourage us to investigate, test and maintain curiosity for the world around us.

2 The children learn about taking care of our World s smaller inhabitants mini beasts! The children also learn to work co-operatively together and build shelters. They are taught a variety of knots such as clove, half and timber hitches as well as some lashings.

3 Lenthall Forest School Parent Information Pack Forest School is "An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a woodland environment. - Forest Education Initiative 2005

4 Table of Contents What is Forest Schools? Lenthall Forest School Ethos What activities will the children be doing? So you want to come to Forest School? What to wear Other essentials (what to bring or leave behind) Other important stuff (food and drink, tools and equipment) The safety of your child Child Protections and Safeguarding Basic Forest School Rules Forest School Staff Volunteers and Volunteering

5 What is Forest School? Forest School originated in Scandinavia in the 1950 s and was intended as a way to teach children about the Natural World and environmental issues. During Forest School sessions children visit woodlands or other outdoor areas and learn through fun and engaging in exciting activities. They learn how to co-operate and work with others to solve problems, use their own initiative and to handle risks. Forest Schools has been developed into an educational programme which is highly flexible and can be used with a wide range of ages and abilities including Special Educational Needs. Rather than focussing in on academic skills, the Forest School is designed to help to develop personal, social and emotional skills such as self-discovery, confidence and independence. It also helps improve communication skills and raise self-esteem. Forest School and the National Curriculum Forest Schools offers a unique and exciting way to deliver and complement aspects of the National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage. Building self-esteem is at the core of the Forest Schools ethos along with raising emotional awareness, confidence building, encouraging independence and providing opportunities for active outdoor play and discovery. Forest Schools is made up of stimulating and exciting activities that become memorable to children and adults alike. These deep level learning experiences are much more accessible from the memory which enables participants to talk about and transfer their skills in a meaningful way.

6 Lenthall Forest School Ethos At Lenthall we believe that young people s development is greatly enhanced when they are learning by doing, when they are given responsibility, work in teams, think for themselves and learn to take acceptable risks. We believe that everybody should have access to woodland or natural environments which provide inspirational and challenging outdoor learning opportunities. Forest School is different from task led, Outdoor Education in that Forest schools focus on the whole person in an environment outside the formal educational setting of the classroom. At Lenthall Forest School we believe that woodland and natural environments create their own learning opportunities framed by safety routines and established boundaries. Our Forest School is led by the learners interest within a loosely structured framework of intended outcomes that builds on the interests and curiosity of the learner. Thus, children experience active learning in a less structured manner which suits the individual learning styles of many children. Individuals will be encouraged and inspired through an on-going programme of positive experiences and participation in engaging and motivating achievable tasks and activities in the natural environment. Forest School will run throughout the year, with groups going out in almost all weathers. They will explore and learn during all four seasons and experience the environmental changes and challenges that seasonal change brings. Individuals will work to problem solve and learn behavioural boundaries through play and the use of tools. At Lenthall Forest School, all the children will be given the opportunity to develop their curiosity, confidence, self-esteem, motivation, creativity, empathy, communication skills, knowledge of the natural world and ability to assess risk. Forest School is "An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a woodland environment. Forest Education Initiative 2005

7 What Activities will the children be doing? So You

8 Forest School: There is no such thing as bad weather. Just the wrong clothes! What to Bring Appropriate clothing for the Weather Sun Hat*/Woolly Hat* Sun Block*/Scarf or Buff* A long sleeved top Warm Jumpers Trousers Sturdy shoes/walking boots and wellingtons. A spare pair of trousers and socks (if possible) A waterproof coat and waterproof trousers We appreciate that this does seem quite a lot, but I am sure you are aware that the British Weather can change suddenly and we could be in a woodland environment. It is better to have too much clothing rather than too little. The sessions will continue regardless of the weather unless specific risks are identified i.e. high winds, low temperatures, floods or thunderstorms. *Seasonally appropriate

9 What to Wear

10 Other Essentials Make sure that the children are wearing long trousers, have a long sleeved top, a warm jumper and a waterproof coat. We think it would be a good idea if the child could bring a spare pair of trousers and socks and a pair of waterproof trousers. In the summer a sun hat and sun cream is really important. In the winter, a woolly hat and a scarf or buff and gloves is just as important too. Please do not wear any of the following: Shorts Skirts Vest tops Sandals/Flip-Flops/Crocs etc If your child is not properly dressed. I am sure you will appreciate that for their own safety and wellbeing, they will miss out on their session.

11 Other Important Stuff Food and Drink Your child should have a drinking water bottle in school. They will be given the opportunity of refilling this and taking it to their Forest School Session. Later on, the children will experience camp fire cooking and any food allergies should be noted in the registration forms. All food will be prepared and overseen by a member of staff holding a current Food Safety and Hygiene Certificate Level 2. Tools and Equipment We will supply all tools and equipment that your child needs for the session. Your child will certainly not need to bring any tools or knives with them to the session.

12 The Safety of Your Child Nothing is more important to us than the safety of your child. One of the most important parts of Forest School is teaching children to assess risk for themselves and, as a result, actually learn how to keep themselves safe. Many of our Forest School activities involve collecting natural items such as leaves, twigs, sticks and learning different construction techniques such as tying knots, lashings and den building. They may even use some tools such as mallets, peelers, scissors and even knives. We will also make fire and do outdoor cooking. These activities help children to take risks safely and be responsible, take care of themselves and others. We ensure the children s safety by having a high adult to child ratio with rigorous risk assessments and following proven safety policies and procedures. No child, or adult, will be allowed to undertake any potentially hazardous activity unless we feel they are ready to do it without risk to themselves or to others. Should you wish to see a copy of the risk assessments for on and off site visits as well as risk assessments to cover activities please do not hesitate to ask to see a copy. Child Protection and Safeguarding Lenthall Forest School follows Lenthall Infant and Nursery Schools child protection and safeguarding policy. For further information on these policies please do not hesitate to enquire for a copy. If you have concerns about the welfare of a child you may go online to the Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Board at Or telephone to seek further advice.

13 Basic Forest School Rules The Children will be encouraged to follow the Countryside Code. They will also be taught: 1. Do NOT pick anything growing unless an adult asks you to look after your Forest School. 2. Do NOT put your fingers or anything else in your mouth 3. STAY within the boundary, we don t go over it, under it or through it. 4. If there is a GATE you WAIT!

14 Forest School Staff At Lenthall Forest School all staff are subject to enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) checks and are committed to the child protection and safeguarding policies of Lenthall Infant and Nursery School. Mrs Sharon Priest will be leading the Forest Schools activities. She is a fully qualified Level 3 Forest Schools Practitioner who works within the FSA (Forest School Association) guidelines and liaises with Sarah Keogh, the Derbyshire Forest School Representative. Mrs Priest has successfully completed and holds a Forest School First Aid Certificate as well as a Paediatric First Aid Certificate. She also holds a Food Safety and Hygiene Certificate Level 2. Volunteers and Volunteering We may require volunteers to provide help and support for the Forest School sessions, especially for visits off school site. All volunteers are subject to our stringent child protection policies and will require to hold a current DBS (formerly CRB) certificate. We are looking for volunteers to help support our Forest Schools delivery. If you are interested in helping out, then please contact us. We will provide volunteers with all the training and support they need to help out and to understand the ethos of Forest Schools.

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