Forest School

Forest School is an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.

At Kendall we have worked in partnership with local businesses and charities to bring together an exceptional learning experience for all of our children, one that promotes creative and divergent thinking, develops resilience rather than fixed strength and allows the children to feel empowered to take calculated risks. By offering these experiences children are able to embrace change, show compassion and empathy and care about other as well as themselves.

Our Forest School provision is a part of the work we are doing at Kendall to gain our Woodland Trust ‘Green Tree Award’ and our ‘Learning Outside the Classroom Mark’.

The Known Benefits of Forest School

Children and young people are stimulated by the outdoors and typically experience, over time, an increase in their self-belief, confidence, learning capacity, enthusiasm, communication, problem solving skills and emotional wellbeing. 

At Forest School children are physically active a lot of the time and their stamina improves as they go through their Forest School sessions. Their experience can also help to lead to the development of healthier lifestyles as children ask parents to take them on trips to woodlands and green spaces outside of school times. As the children gain confidence and improve their self-esteem this can impact on their emotional and mental well-being. 

The ‘wild’ and yet controlled, safe environment of Forest School ensures that children taking part naturally learn to assess risk and are encouraged to make sensible and informed decisions about how to deal with unfamiliar and unpredictable situations (such as exploring or climbing trees, using tools to build shelters and dens). Much of the learning for a child comes as a result of the opportunities they have for testing their own abilities in real life contexts. 

Forest School sets learning in a different context for children where they can undertake a range of practical activities and carry out small achievable tasks. At Forest School children can develop team working skills and also learn to become more independent. Those who are unfamiliar with woodlands and green spaces can become confident in using them and this can form the basis of a life-long relationship with natural spaces.  

Forest School helps children to develop their confidence. As they become familiar with Forest School they can take their new-found confidence into school and into other areas of their lives. Children learn to solve problems and be creative and imaginative at Forest School thus showing enterprising behaviour. Forest School benefits many children at Kendall and we use it as a vital part of children’s outdoor learning experience, and as an integral part of our curriculum offer.

It is essential that all children come dressed appropriately for Forest Schools. There is a detailed guide for 'Dressing For Forest School' which you can download below. Follow these simple steps to come prepared:

• Put on a base layer - tuck base layers neatly into trouser waist band (this stops any external drafts reaching the skin), neatly wrap trouser leg around leg and tuck into sock avoid lumps that make boots uncomfortable. Doing this reduces the likelihood of socks slipping.
• Add mid layer - e.g. a thin fleece or jumper. Then put on waterproof trousers or dungarees. If enough room tuck the mid layer into the waterproof trouser or dungarees to stops drafts.
• Then add wellies and a waterproof coat.
• Finally, when cold, hats and gloves. 

Even in warm weather, children still need to have long sleeves, long trousers, wellies and a waterproof coat.

Please note that Forest School is a compulsory part of the curriculum at Kendall and that if your child is well enough to be in school then they will be expected to attend their Forest School session.

Below you will find our Forest School Diaries which record our weekly Forest School Sessions.