Pangshanger Park Forest School

What is forest school? Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are working in partnership with Tarmac to deliver this exciting Panshanger Park Forest School Initiative. Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through regular hands-on learning experiences in a natural environment. Forest School activities are designed to challenge children - but also to be achievable so that children are able to stretch their skills and build their confidence. Whilst each session has a lesson plan, with learning objectives set, child-initiated learning is always encouraged to allow children the freedom to explore At Forest School children take part in activities that encourage creativity and exploration. From den building to minibeast hunts, fire lighting to natural art, all of our activities are designed to be fun and interesting, and importantly something they would probably never otherwise experience.

Why is outdoor education so important? Consider the experience of many children in today’s society… - Play? - Access to the outdoors? - Access to nature? - Access to space?

Outdoor Classroom Culture Why learn in a forest? Outdoor Classroom Culture - Discover the information themselves through investigation - Experiencing topics first hand and relating them to real life situations - Working in collaboration with others - Testing one’s own limits and learning what is safe - The unexpected - Multi- Sensory/ Whole child development - Physical development Classroom Culture - Told the information - Reading about topics - Physical distance from others - Limitations - The expected - Intellectual development - Physical inactivity

Research on benefits of Outdoor Education Educational Philosophies Child-centred education (Froebel) Learn by doing linked to real life (Dewey) Natural environment feeds creativity (Steiner) Importance of space to move (McMillan) Educational Research Development of Physical Literacy (Whitehead 2010) Increased physical activity (Mygind 2007) Increased motor development (Fjortoft 2004) Better understanding of risk (Gill 2007) Improved well being and mental health (Louv 2005) Counteract ‘toxic childhood’ (Palmer 2006) Children need to move to learn (Ouvry 2003 ) Sensory integration – food for the brain (Ayres 2005) All postural behaviour comes from balance (Goddard Blythe 2005)

Benefits of forest school * Builds independence * Increased self esteem * Curiosity * Exploration of senses * Spatial awareness * Motor development * Social skills * Team building * Risk management * Cross- curricular skills * Problem solving * Creativity * Self-discovery * Imagination

Pictures of Pangshanger Park Forest School Toilets Waterproof station

Entrance sign The walk down

Mud Kitchen Den building

Camp Fire Area

The 5 Senses- Sight, Touch, Smell, Hear, Taste Theme The 5 Senses- Sight, Touch, Smell, Hear, Taste Week 1 Sight- Linking into Minibeasts, going on hunts, observing natural habitats and creating their own bug hotel. Week 2 Touch- Looking at all varieties of trees, blindfold games feeling trees, mud kitchen, making mud faces Week 3 Smell- Children making potions using different tools such as pestle and mortars, making their own tools potato peelers Week 4 Hear- Making their own musical band, testing natural materials for sounds, making own nature boxes Week 5 Taste- Children shown how to make hot chocolate on a small camp fire (Chn have to stand outside of circle),Making bird feeders for animals Week 6 Party!!- Children toasting marshmallows , exploring forest area again, celebrating their learning

What will happen? Reception: 15 children at a time (am or pm) Minibus provided by Panshanger Forest School Depending on number of children wanting to attend there are two dates (February half term for 6 weeks and then after Easter holidays for 6 weeks) Linked to curriculum: draw upon the natural environment to enhance learning. Involve aspects of child-initiated learning. Focus on individual child’s achievements and next steps for progression.

Safety To ensure children's safety whilst at Panshanger Park Forest School: 1)All sessions are organised and run by qualified Forest School Leaders who hold a Level 3 BTEC Forest School Leaders Award 2)Leaders are experienced environmental educators and have good ecological knowledge 3)Leaders work with individual groups to enable children to create their own Forest School guidelines 4)All leaders are qualified first aiders and carry a first aid kit 5)All leaders have a DBS check (police clearance) 6)Our leader is the senior Designated Safeguarding Officer 7)Sessions run with a high adult: child ratio 8)The Forest School site is risk assessed and pre-visit checks are carried out before every session.  School staff are invited to make a site visit before the learning programme commences 9)All individual activities are risk assessed and any child-initiated learning follows a 'dynamic risk assessment' procedure 10)Forest School sessions are covered by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust's public liability insurance

FAQ What does my child need to wear? How do I know my child is safe? Waterproofs Welly boots Wooly hat (if cold) How do I know my child is safe? High staff : child ratios Fully trained Vast experience Secure site Children learn rules by games & songs Children involved in risk assessment Safe practise for tool use FAQ What if my child has a medical condition? First aid kit on minibus All staff first aid trained Any medication/epi-pens will be with teacher at all times Drinking Water available at all times What about toileting? Full use of outdoor toilets Accompanied by adult Does the weather prevent Forest School from taking place? No! (apart from very high winds, lightning)

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