At St Laurence, we are delighted to give our children regular opportunities to take part in Forest School at Northbourne CE Primary School.

As an urban school, we value the chance for pupils to spend meaningful time in a natural woodland environment. Children travel to Northbourne by minibus and each class takes part in a half-term programme of Forest School sessions during the academic year.

Forest School provides children with practical, hands-on experiences which help them to build confidence, independence and resilience. Sessions are led by a qualified Forest School practitioner and follow a progressive curriculum, allowing pupils to develop their skills and understanding over time.
Learning through nature

During their sessions, children have opportunities to:

build shelters and dens
learn about fire lighting and fire safety
prepare and cook food outdoors
use tools safely and responsibly
create objects using natural materials
explore plants, animals and seasonal changes
work as part of a team
solve problems and overcome challenges

Forest School encourages children to take supported and appropriate risks, make decisions and learn from their experiences. It also helps them to develop leadership, communication, co-operation and social skills.

Supporting wellbeing

Time spent outdoors can provide children with a calm and engaging environment in which they can explore, reflect and learn. Forest School supports the development of confidence, self-esteem and emotional wellbeing, while giving pupils the freedom to be active, creative and curious. 

Children are encouraged to persevere when things are difficult, support one another and celebrate what they achieve. Whether they are building a den, learning how to use a tool or working together to solve a problem, every session offers opportunities for personal growth.

Developing spirituality

Forest School also supports children’s spiritual development. Through their experiences, children are encouraged to:

wonder at God’s natural world
notice and appreciate the beauty of nature
reflect on their place within the wider world
recognise their responsibility to care for the environment
experience moments of peace, awe and reflection

These opportunities help children to see themselves as part of the natural world and consider how they can protect it for the future.

A progressive experience

Forest School is most effective when children attend regularly rather than as a one-off activity. Each session builds upon previous experiences through a cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review. This allows the programme to respond to the interests and needs of the children while steadily developing their knowledge and skills.

We are very grateful to Northbourne CE Primary School for welcoming our pupils and enabling them to enjoy the benefits of their Forest School provision.