What is Forest School?

Forest School is a long term holistic learning experience that aims to raise confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness in the natural environment. Being outdoors has huge benefits for our children both physically and mentally.

There are many benefits to Forest School for our children. Here are just a few;

• Physical fitness.
• Feeling empathy for others and nature.
• Building confidence and independence.
• Health benefits.
• Improved mental health, including better sleep and mood.
• Learning by experience.
• Taking positive risks.

Forest school also focuses heavily on our Curriculum Drivers;

Driver 1 – Children at St Richard’s are curious about the world

The curriculum at St Richard’s aims to teach children about the world and the sites and landscapes beyond Evesham.

Driver 2 – At St Richard’s children want to make a positive contribution / difference to the world

 To help children broaden their horizons the curriculum at St Richard’s will ensure the children leave the school knowing how to make a positive contribution to society. 

Driver 3 - Children at St Richard’s are protectors of the world god created

The world around is an amazing place and children at St Richard’s need to learn to take care of it in order to preserve it for future generations. Driver 3 is formed on the need for pupils to understand they have a part to play in their future and that caring for the wider climate, environment and animals in it is very important

Forest school ethos allows children time and space to develop skills, interest and understanding through a range of activities which provide practical, hands on experiences in a natural environment. Our Early Years children take part in a Forest School session once a week using our developing pond area, and are also lucky enough to be able to visit a woodland area in the spring term to make comparisons to a woodland area and be able to pond dip in a much larger pond. Mrs Thornley runs a Forest School club in the summer term for KS1 children.

Forest School Club

Check out our recent Forest School pick. They were so tasty