Forest School builds on a child’s innate motivation and positive attitude to learning, offering them opportunities to take risks; make choices and initiate learning.

The Forest School learning environment provides opportunities for children to develop self-esteem, self-confidence, to form positive relationships with others, to develop a growing awareness of their emotional needs and the needs of others, to learn to cooperate and work with their peers and adults and develop strategies in order to take risks within the boundaries of safety.

The setting allows the children to engage with the natural environment. Forest School is about exploring and experiencing the natural world through practical activities. The children go out in all weathers, all year round, exploring and learning from the four seasons and environment changes. The children’s interest along with the varied natural resources in our woodland are used to stimulate creative thinking, problem solving and skill development. Most of our activities are child-led but some activities are planned by the teacher.

The school has large outdoor spaces around the school.  During the children's time at PTM they will get to use all three playground spaces, the pond, the forest school, the digging area, the sandpit, the outdoor classroom and gazebos, the allotment and other field spaces.  Please read more about the opportunities for children as part of our OPAL project to see how children use the space at lunchtimes. 

 

During the sessions the children have a chance to develop

Confidence

Social Skills

Language and communication

Motivation and concentration 

Physical Skills

Knowledge and understanding

New perspectives