Forest School

Forest Schools, originated in Sweden in the 1950's, have also been developed throughout other Scandinavian and European countries. These ideas have been adapted and changed from the original concept in British Forest Schools. Each and every Forest School is designed to meet the needs of the children, and to allow them to develop within the environment. This idea has many benefits of learning within a natural environment. It has also show that children need to play, experience space and movement and sensory stimulation for healthy development. It helps promote outdoor play for children, and also encourages them, and motivates their curiosity.

Many individuals are unaware of what a Forest School is. It is a system of learning which allows the environment to teach the children. It is a direct experience of learning. It is a setting where the usual "class dynamic" is changed by the environment. It allows children to learn all the subjects within the National Curriculum within an alternative environment. The Forest Schools' philosophy is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences over an extended period of time.

Forest Schools provide children with the opportunity to develop themselves, as all areas of their intelligence are used within the natural environment. It allows children to develop physically and mentally, as they are stimulated to learn and are not stuck sitting at a desk. Children are able to experience a natural environment in all kinds of weather, and through free and structured play.

When in primary school, my class used to take weekly trips to a local nature park called Ynys Dawela. It had a variety of activities we could do. There were walking paths, a lot of grassland, woodlands and ponds. We were taught how to weave fences and find insects and animals. We were taught how to many things, and I found it very interesting as a child. We were given the opportunity to run around and explore on our own, within certain boundaries of the park. As children, it was exciting for us to be let loose within the natural environment where we'd find things we were unaware of. Unfortunately, the nature park has stopped inviting schools to the park, but the public are still welcome to take a trip there. 

The local primary school are currently creating their own natural environment in a field on school grounds. It will include a pond and wildlife, such as frogs and birds, which they will be able to take care of themselves. They will plant trees and they will be given the chance to run around and explore, which will motivate them to learn.

http://www.forestschools.com
http://www.breconbeaconstourism.co.uk/marketarea/Brynamman_The_Amman_Valley/index.html