Forest Schools
At Highfields Primary Academy, Forest School is a purposeful approach to learning that supports children’s development through regular, high-quality outdoor experiences. Led by a qualified Forest School Practitioner, Forest School is an integral part of our personal development offer from Nursery through to Year 6, with additional after-school provision available for pupils who wish to further immerse themselves in outdoor learning.
Forest School is a child-centred approach that places the learner at the heart of the experience. Through play, exploration and carefully supported risk-taking, children are encouraged to develop confidence, independence and self-esteem while learning in and through the natural environment.
Our Forest School provision is firmly rooted in the six principles of good practice set out by the Forest School Association, ensuring an authentic and high-quality experience for all pupils:
- Forest School is delivered as a long-term process, with regular sessions that build on observation, planning, reflection and adaptation.
- Learning takes place in our own woodland and natural environments, supporting the development of a meaningful and lasting relationship with the natural world.
- Sessions are learner-led, fostering curiosity, collaboration and a strong sense of community.
- Forest School promotes holistic development, supporting emotional wellbeing, resilience, creativity and physical confidence.
- Children are given opportunities to engage in supported risk-taking, appropriate to their individual needs and the environment.
- Provision is led by a trained Forest School Practitioner, who continually reflects on and develops her professional practice.
Rooted in the Scandinavian concept of friluftsliv – meaning “free air life”- Forest School values learning through experience, movement and connection with nature. This ethos underpins our commitment to nurturing confident, resilient and reflective learners who are well equipped for life both in and beyond the classroom.
For further information about the Forest School approach and ethos, please visit the Forest School Association website.