Forest school originated in Scandinavia in the 1950s and is based on the philosophy that children's interaction with nature and the natural world is a very important factor in their development.

Forest school at Whitecross Nursery School is an inspirational process that offers opportunities for groups of children to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. It is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.

Principles of Forest School

The forest school ethos has six guiding principles which were agreed by the UK Forest School Community in 2011:

• is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.
• takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
• uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
• aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
• offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
• is run by qualified forest school practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

What to expect at Whitecross.

At Whitecross we recognise the importance of outside play, whatever the weather or season.

Our forest School Ethos is all about letting the children explore, investigate and follow their interests in a wild environment. 

Expect children at Forest School to develop the art of fire making, den building, forest activities, enjoy hot chocolate warmed outside and toasting marshmallows on our camp fire.