Home Education Forest School - Tuesday

Weekly forest school programme for home educating families, particularly younger children taking place on Tuesdays.

Half of all our Home Education Forest School places are funded by NHS Mental Health Transformation funding to provide programmes for home educating families who couldn't otherwise afford to attend. Funded places are availabe for any home educator who feels that forest school could benefit their own and their child's mental wellbeing. Places are by self-referral, we do not means test, and are available on a first-come basis.

This programme follows the six forest school principles. Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

What happens at forest school groups?

Forest school programmes are delivered in line with six guiding principles. which were agreed by the UK Forest School community in 2011.

WARNING - Your child is likely to get muddy; and enjoy it!

Principles and Criteria for Good Practice

Principle One:
Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School.

Principle Two:
Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.

Principle Three:
Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.

Principle Four:
Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.

Principle Five:
Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

Principle Six:
Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning.

The sessions take place in a small woodland at Old Wood Organic, Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. The wood is situated down a quiet road surrounded by Skellingthorpe Old Wood. There is a working organic market garden also in the woodland, which is very peaceful. This is a well established woodland with a good diversity of trees, shrubs and plants allowing exploration and opportunities to learn about the environment.