Forest School At Campsbourne

The Forest School approach promotes the holistic development of children. But what is Forest School?

• Learning outdoors which encourages all the sense to be used
• It takes place in smaller groups with a high adult to child ratio that allows children to undertake new experience and challenges while taking appropriate risks
• It is led by a trained level 3 Forest School Leader who has a real understanding of child development and creates sessions which are child led and supports personalised learning
• It builds children’s confidence and self esteem as they are responsible for making their own decisions and are supported to achieve.
• A long term programme which allow repetition where children come into nature using all their senses.

With all of the Forest School which takes place at Campsbourne we work within the following learning objectives;

• To learn about the possibilities and boundaries of woodland play
• To develop fine motor skills using – we all used hand drills or palm drills and fire steels
• To explore that particular season in the woods
• To develop personal, social and emotional development
• To develop physical awareness
• To develop creative skills
• To learn about the local flora and fauna in Ally Pally

EYFS (Nursery and Reception)

Nursery

Sessions take place every week for approximately one hour.

Reception

Children take part in sessions every week for approximately one hour.

• Experiencing the changing seasons
• Multi-sensory games
• Physical challenges (climbing trees etc)
• Learning the names of trees, birds and plants at Ally Pally
• Building dens
• Mini beast hunts
• Acting out stories
• Exploring and creating maps and journey sticks
• Toasting marshmallows

Year 1

Children take part in sessions every week for approximately 2 hours during the Autumn Term.

• We climbed horizontal trees
• We did a big insect hunt …and then raced them
• We played in mud
• We did lots of things with colourful leaves
• We made spiders webs and clay spiders
• We drilled conkers and had conker fights
• We used mallets to bash in sticks to the ground
• We collected leaves and make Manadalas
• We processed natural clay and created tree spirits
• We made swings with ropes

Year 3

Children take part in sessions every week for approximately 2 hours during the Spring Term.

• We used old Christmas trees to practise our lopping skills
• We made dens and nests
• We built shelters
• We did lots of mud and rain play
• We made bird feeders
• Due to the snow and ice we had we set up camp in the frosty winter wonderland by building shelters.
• We explored the woods and played a lot of games such as 1,2,3 where are you.
• When it got warmer we climbed some trees and rolled down the hill in Alexander Park.

Year 5

Children take part in sessions every week for approximately 2 hours during the Summer Term.

• Played games such as 1,2,3 where are you?
• Explored the woodland area in Alexandra Palace Park
• the side was still a bit muddy we did some clay work and green woodwork for those who wanted to learn woodland skills.
• We explored the woods and learned how to to use knives and bow saws safely.
• Had a great game of capture the flag as the finale.

Campsbourne Forest School Handbook 2024-2025