What is Forest School and how does it enhance our curriculum?

Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment. It is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.

At Thornton, we teach Forest School lessons so that all the children have a chance to develop a wide range of skills that they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do so inside the classroom. It also supports our children's self-esteem and confidence and allows them the chance to achieve things they thought they might not have been able to previously.

We also use Forest School lessons as an opportunity to enhance other areas of the national curriculum and regularly carry out Science, Geography and Art related activities.

Each week, all children have a morning or afternoon in our Forest School. We believe that outdoor learning is something all children should have regular access to in order to better develop their understanding of the world around them, apply learning from a variety of different subjects and sustain a healthy lifestyle.