What is Forest School?

Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

The process helps and facilitates more than knowledge-gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. Forest School inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world, and an understanding of how a learner fits within it. Our approach to risk means that learners constantly expand on their abilities by solving real-world issues, building self-belief and resilience. Forest School, therefore, helps participants to become, healthy, resilient, creative and independent learners.

Forest School @ LPS

Our younger pupils within the Early years will begin their outdoor experiences onsite during Muddy Monday and Welly Wednesday sessions. The Forest School sessions will begin offsite at Llangyfelach Scout Hall grounds from Y1-6.  Working in partnership with Llangyfelach Scouts the site offers access to:

• an outdoor classroom

• log circle and firepit

• outdoor toilet block

• natural environment

• environmental facilities

All classes will visit the area fortnightly for a full afternoon. Classes will be split into two groups. One group will undertake Forest School experiences while the other half will undertake outdoor learning linked closely to their LPS Learning projects.

Forest School activities will be based on child-led learning while also offering a progressive approach to developing bushcraft skills under the following themes:

• Forest School Skills & Attitudes

• Natural Environment

• Natural Resources

• Structures & Knots

• Fire Circle & Cookery

• Solving Problems Collaboratively