Welcome to Forest Schools!

We are thrilled to welcome Vicky Watt, a teacher and Level 3 qualified Forest School leader, to New Milton Infant School!

You may be wondering, what is Forest Schools? Where does it come from? What will my child do at forest schools? And maybe, what benefits does forest schools have on children?

Firstly and most importantly your children will have lots of fun and probably come home exhausted from all the fresh air and activities we will do! They will probably come home muddy but the benefits of Forest School far out weigh the muddy clothes!

Forest schools originated in Scandinavia. It is an inspirational process that offers all ages regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence through hands-on learning in a woodland environment. It provides opportunities for holistic development, including physical development, developing emotional intelligence, social skills, and creativity as well as supporting children in approaching risk in an appropriate and safe way. It offers children a chance to be themselves. They can explore the world around them in a safe sanctuary of nature. They can play, run, climb, create and explore the incredible world around us. The woods are a magical place where we can run with our imagination and where there is inspiration everywhere.

Typical activities at forest schools include: den building, fire lighting, campfire cooking, woodcraft activities, creative natural art, bug hunts, fauna and flora identification, scavenger hunts and obviously wherever the children take it! So, each day is unique and delivers a different experience.

Studies have shown that children who engage in forest school have shown the following benefits over time;

• Increased self-esteem and confidence.
• Improved social skills, especially in cooperation and awareness of others.
• Increased motivation and concentration.
• Development of communication and language skills.
• Improved physical motor skills.
• Increased knowledge and understanding of the environment.