At Thropton we value the importance of being outside and the impact this has on children’s health, wellbeing and learning.

All children in our school get the opportunity to experience Forest School as part of their curriculum. Our children enjoy regular sessions with Toni a qualified teacher and forest school leader from Muddy Footprint Adventures. Each year group enjoys a half term of forest school sessions, we also enjoy whole school forest school days where we all spend the full day in our forest school area and after school clubs.

Nursery and Reception children enjoy Forest School every Friday morning for the entire school year! This provides a unique opportunity for the children to experience the outdoor environment across all four seasons. Our resilient little learners enjoy exploring seasonal changes and weather during these sessions. So far in Autumn term the children have enjoyed lots of foraging in our local area, collecting blackberries, elderberries and apples to explore. We have enjoyed pressing our own apple juice and look forward to baking apple crumble on the campfire!

What is Forest School?

– Forest school is an approach originating in Denmark but now increasingly popular in the UK.

– A child centred learning process that allows children to grow holistically across sessions. These sessions support children to play, explore, discover and take risks through hands-on experience in a familiar outdoor environment.

– Sessions support children to develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually.

What will my child do at Forest School?

The children spend much of Forest School leading their own learning, in a fast-paced society and during a busy school week, Forest School is an important time to allow children to slow down, explore, investigate and PLAY. It allows children to be curious and look at nature and the world in more detail.  We hope that each week, their interests will develop and lots of projects are revisited over time including incredible fairy houses, busy mud cafes and dens!

The children also learn new skills during their sessions including (but not limited to…) 

– Learning to tie a variety of knots and lashing techniques.

– Developing their shelter and den building skills.

– Learning about minibeasts and plants which are found in their school area.

– Listening to tool talks and learning to safely use tools such as hammers, palm drills, bow saws and peelers to whittle.

– Learning how to safely light and respect fires and learning to cook on a campfire.

– Helping to look after our environment by planting and building things like bug hotels and bee baths!

What does my child need for Forest School?

You will be told when it is your child’s turn for Forest School.
Nursery and Reception children need waterproofs, a spare waterproof coat (separate to their school coat) and wellies or boots every Friday of the school year. The children go out in most weather, please consider extra layers in the colder months including – a pair of thick socks/wellies socks, a warm jumper to put over their school top/under their waterproofs and/or warmer waterproofs if this is something they have. Don’t forget gloves and hats or sun hats where appropriate!
Year 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be asked to send in waterproofs and wellies when it is their turn for forest school. If you are worried about providing these, get in touch with school and Toni our Forest School leader may be able to help!
It is also important on Forest School days that your child wears LONG trousers/tights. No bare legs please!