Forest School

John Randall Primary School has a flourishing Forest School programme, which has been part of our mainstream curriculum for many years. Our Forest School site is based on the school premises and is used weekly by all children who take part in Forest School activities led by our experienced Level 3 Forest School leaders.

Why Forest School?

Forest School enables children to connect with nature and it fosters a sense of respect and ownership with the outdoor environment. All activities aim to support the children’s social and emotional development, which in turn can help raise their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Forest School allows children to explore nature and use the natural materials around them.

What do we do at Forest School?

During our sessions in Forest School safety is discussed and becomes embedded in the learning. Children learn to recognise risk, why camp base rules apply and how to keep safe in our outdoor environment. Over time the children learn to risk assess their own situations, this then enables them to discover, problem solve and explore. Children learn to adapt their learning to the seasons, nature and the outdoor environment. At John Randall we encourage all elements of the curriculum to be delivered outside and therefore sessions are part directed and part child led. It is the schools desire that when a child leaves our setting they will have the skill sets to use tools safely, understand what makes a perfect habitat for wildlife and what changes could we make both in school and at home to encourage more wildlife within our settings. All activities are small achievable tasks that encourage the children to succeed and build resilience.