Forest School Intent 

Underpinned by our five core values — Commitment, Courage, Compassion, Creativity and Cooperation — our intent in Forest School is to provide all children with regular, meaningful opportunities to learn and grow in the natural environment. We believe that time spent outdoors is essential for children’s mental health and wellbeing. By connecting with nature, children experience calm, develop resilience and build a strong sense of belonging within God’s creation. 

Through exploration, discovery and carefully supported risk-taking, pupils are empowered to follow their interests, make choices and take ownership of their experiences. This nurtures independence, intrinsic motivation and a deep sense of achievement. 

We recognise the significant benefits of outdoor learning for emotional wellbeing. Time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and increase self-esteem. Within our Forest School sessions, children develop confidence, resilience and perseverance as they encounter challenges such as den building, tool use, fire lighting and problem-solving tasks. Through these experiences, they demonstrate courage in stepping beyond their comfort zones and commitment in seeing tasks through to completion. 

Forest School fosters strong relationships and a sense of community. Children learn to work collaboratively, share ideas and support one another, embodying cooperation in group challenges and shared projects. We actively promote compassion by encouraging respect for each other and for the natural world, teaching children to care for living things and understand their responsibility as stewards of the environment. 

Creativity is at the heart of Forest School. The natural environment becomes a rich stimulus for imaginative play, storytelling, art, construction and investigation. Children are free to explore, design and create using natural materials, developing curiosity, problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. 

Through sustained and progressive outdoor experiences, we aim for every child to flourish socially, emotionally and physically. Forest School supports holistic development, strengthening communication skills, improving concentration and enhancing overall wellbeing. By providing a safe, nurturing space in nature, we enable children to develop confidence, self-awareness and a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors — equipping them to thrive in our diverse world and make the most of their God-given talents.