“I DON’T think we’ve ever had a child not want to take part in Forest School – they’re normally queueing round the block to get in,” said headteacher Julieanne Taylor.
An innovative Wokingham primary school has transformed an unused strip of land into a child’s garden of delights.
At St Paul’s C of E Junior School, Oxford Road, a tucked-away and overgrown area at the furthest corner of the playing field has been cleared to create a woodland playground, where children take part in Forest School.
They climb trees, whittle sticks, make camps, pond dip, balance on logs, make mud pies, and toast marshmallows around a camp fire.
It’s every child’s (and quite a few adults’) secret dream.
Sessions are led by specialist learning mentors.
Health and safety lead, and Scout leader, Penny McBain trained to be a Forest School practitioner in order to facilitate the project, and works with learning mentor and Guide leader Penny Gray.
“We love it,” said Penny G.
“Sometimes if you have a bad day in the classroom, it all disappears in the woodland – for grown-ups as well as for the children.”
Playing and exploring together in mixed age group sessions, younger children are able to help older pupils.
“Forest School is a great equaliser,” said Penny M, “and we find that children who are normally quiet and shy in school, or who don’t put up their hands to answer questions, are able to show leadership in Forest School.
“The power of peer-to-peer teaching is huge, because learning from their peers rather than from an adult gives children confidence and builds self esteem.”
Every Forest School session begins with quiet reflection, children seated on log seats cut from the trunk of a St Paul’s Churchyard tree that had to be felled in recent months.
Then the children are free to explore.
This is an ‘I can’ space, where they can choose their activities.
On the day we visit, some have fun wrapping themselves up like mummies in hammocks, laughing and swinging together.
Others balance on home made swings, climb nimbly up trees, or work with a knife to whittle wood.
And they all want to toast a marshmallow on the fire.
Their enjoyment is obvious, but Forest School can be life changing, too, especially for children who may find school difficult.
“One little boy, who was struggling at school, went into Forest School and made a den,” said Penny G.
“He got inside and he started reading – he wouldn’t pick up a book before.”
There has been lots of interest in St Paul’s Forest School from other educational establishments in the area.
“We’re very proud of it,” continued headteacher Julieanne Taylor.
“It’s a wonderful facility, and we’re seeing its benefits in all areas of school life.
“We wanted our children to be able to climb trees, and to develop a love of nature and the environment.
“If we don’t teach them this, who will look after the world in future?”
There are trees to climb, a pond with a viewing bridge, an allotment where the children grow vegetables, a potting shed, a mud kitchen where children serve bowls of mud, conkers, acorns, and pine cones to ‘diners’, a digging area, dens,and places to swing and balance.
“Forest School activities involve problem solving, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating, listening, and team building – all great skills for the classroom, and for life,” said Penny M.
“It’s great for mental health and wellbeing, but it’s also educational – a number of our children living in flats without gardens had never climbed a tree before.
“Here they learn how to take risks appropriately and thoughtfully.
“And they’re learning where the food on their plates comes from as they grow vegetables in the allotment.”
Forest School encourages children to respect the environment, each other, and the tools they are using.
Activities such as lighting a fire, or whittling, are not without risk, but the children are taught how to take care of themselves and each other.
Julieanne explained: “They learn to light a fire, and they learn how to use a knife properly, wearing proper gloves.
“We risk assess, and we teach them how to use these things appropriately, after which they apply them correctly, in the right environment.
“We’re very proud of our main school curriculum, which is very knowledge rich.
“But Forest School adds a whole extra layer to our children’s education.
“It’s a massive strength, and such an asset to the school.
“The two Pennys have worked so hard to develop it, and we are so lucky that we can offer such a special outdoor learning experience.”
For information, visit: stpauls.wokingham.sch.uk
