How to set up a Forest School
You will want to provide the best Forest School opportunity for your children and you can decide to do this in two ways. You can either attend Level 3 training and become a qualified Forest School Practitioner. Alternatively you can contact an organisation or individual that specialises in the delivery of Forest School programmes such as Nick Wale in Birmingham, Archimedes Training in Yorkshire, Gordon Woodall in Somerset, Simon Shakespeare in Devon or Sarah Wilson in Wales.
Your Forest School programme will initially run from your own grounds, gardens or playing fields if this is appropriate. This allows your children to become comfortable with the Forest School practitioner and outdoor approach to learning and play whilst still in their familiar surroundings. Relationships can be developed based on trust and self awareness, these developments will facilitate the reflective child led approach to the outdoor curriculum that underpins the Forest School ethos.
When your group is ready you can then get to know the route to your very own special Forest School wood, this will be either on foot or by bus.
You will then have your very first session in the woodland, you will all explore your site, investigate and begin the sense of ownership and belonging, you may also consider discussing boundaries at this point both physical and behavioural.
Once your group is on the way to becoming established in the woodland and routines are set up the programme can develop. You will observe the individuals in your group and started your baseline records. Through this you can identify learning styles, schemas and multiple intelligences. Then through your reflective practice implement the Forest School child led approach. You may wish to provide opportunities for session ideas that can taken back to the indoor setting if that is applicable to your situation so that they can be continued.
Meeting Basic needs
Most of you will have heard of Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs. This link into the areas of the brain, the Reptilian brain, the limbic system and the Cortex.
In order for children, and adults for that matter, to feel comfortable and be prepared for learning and enjoy themselves, basic needs such as
Warmth – Correct clothing can be provided
Food- Healthy food and targeted nutrition will ensure greater concentration
Drink – Keeping hydrated means that the food that is eaten can be digested and used to its maximum potential, water and hot drinks
Safety – Providing a positive learning environment and routines and boundaries will mean individuals feel safe both physically and emotionally