Learning outdoors: the Forest School approach

Abstract

This paper outlines the role that Forest School can play in children's development. With over 100 Forest Schools in England, 20 in Scotland and 20 in Wales, this concept is growing across Britain. Forest School involves children having regular contact with woodland over an extended period of time; it allows them to become familiar, and have contact, with the natural environment. The recent Learning outside the classroom manifesto highlights the importance of children and young people gaining experience of the world beyond the classroom. Twenty-four children from seven schools in Oxfordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire were observed over an eight-month period as they attended Forest School. Improvements in the children's confidence, motivation and concentration, language and communication and physical skills were recorded by teachers and Forest School leaders. Changes took time to occur, highlighting the need for repeated and regular contact with the natural environment, especially for children who do not have access to nature as part of their everyday lives.