At St John Fisher, our Forest School is a growing and thriving space where children are given the freedom, time, and guidance to explore, create, and flourish. As we continue to develop our well-planned field space and expand sessions across the school, we are committed to providing rich opportunities for every child to connect with the natural world, build resilience, and discover their potential.
Through tool work, exploration, and safe practice around fire and outdoor skills, children will learn responsibility, independence, and respect, for themselves, for others, and for the environment. Our Forest School nurtures self-confidence, problem solving, and teamwork, while fostering curiosity and a lifelong love of learning outdoors.
The growth of Forest School will enrich the whole school community, embedding outdoor learning into our culture and strengthening our shared values of creativity, resilience, and care. Together, we are building not only skills for today, but foundations for the future.
Forest School Principles
1. Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions
It’s not a one-off visit or outdoor activity; it happens regularly over time, ideally in all seasons and weathers, so children can build deeper connections and skills.
2. Forest School takes place in a natural environment
Learning happens in woodland or a natural space that allows exploration, play, and interaction with the changing environment.
3. Forest School promotes holistic development
It supports children’s physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual growth, nurturing resilience, creativity, and independence.
4. Forest School offers supported risk-taking
Children are encouraged to take appropriate risks (e.g., tool use, fire lighting, climbing) in a safe, supervised way that builds responsibility and confidence.
5. Forest School is run by qualified practitioners
Sessions are led by trained Forest School leaders who understand both outdoor learning and child development, ensuring high-quality, safe experiences.
6. Forest School is learner-centred
Activities are child-led and play-based, with learners encouraged to explore their own ideas, follow their curiosity, and develop at their own pace.
Environmental Impact
Our aim is that all pupils and staff respect our forest school area and are all encouraged to help think about ways we can help sustain it. We aim to reduce our waste and recycle and compost where possible in line with our school Eco policy. We hope that this demonstrates a respect for the wider environment. Activities such as having fires will follow practices that minimise the impact on the environment, being mindful of the local wildlife and what is being burnt, leaving no trace to the land.
