Forest School Basics 1: What is it?

The Forest School initiative is based on long-standing practice in Scandinavia, where children under 7 years of age have extensive experience of what are known as “nature’s nurseries”. The children travel to remote forested areas, and learn skills that allow them to reconnect with the natural world.
Long experience indicates that children arrive in school better able to learn if they have had these opportunities. They develop problem-solving abilities, the capacity to work collaboratively with other children, and to make choices, as well as increasing their confidence in their own ability. As a result they tend to be more independent learners, and to cope better when they encounter difficulties.
A team of teachers from Bridgewater College visited some “nature’s nurseries” in Denmark in 1992, and brought the idea back to the UK. They set up a “Forest School”, and its success meant that the initiative spread quickly.
There is a national Forest School Association (FSA) now, which regulates all training courses and oversees the quality of Forest School provision nationally. Most Forest School settings are in primary schools, many centres provide sessions for older children, young offenders, school refusers and adults. There are even Forest School leaders who specialise in private parties!
The FSA has devised a number of guiding principles that underpin all Forest School provision.
These are:
1. Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit.
2. Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
3. Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those 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 development and learning.