Forest School
The main aims of Forest School at Great Chart Primary School
- To provide children with experiences that encourage an appreciation, awareness and knowledge of the natural environment.
- To learn to respect and care for their own local environment.
- To abide by the rules and set standards of behaviour, to work cooperatively in groups and to respect each other.
- Develop children’s self-esteem and self-confidence through the setting of small achievable tasks.
The ethos of Forest School believes in a child's right to play; the right to access the outdoors; the right to experience risk in a controlled way in the natural world along with the right to develop their emotional intelligence through social interaction, building resilience to enable creative engagement with their peers and their potential.
Our Forest School encourages children to:
- Develop personal and social skills
- Work through practical problems and challenges
- Use tools to create, build or manage
- Learn how to manage failures
- Build confidence in decision making and evaluating risk
- Develop practical skills
- Understand the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle
- Explore connections between humans, wildlife and the earth
- Regularly experience achievement and success
- Reflect on learning and experiences
- Develop their language and communication skills
- Improve both fine and gross motor skills
