Forest School sessions at Fairway Primary are a fantastic opportunity for our children to develop their curiosity, confidence, self-esteem, creativity, empathy, communication skills, knowledge of the natural environment and ability to assess risk. In order to achieve these things, we believe everybody should have regular, long-term access to a woodland or natural environment which provides them with inspirational and challenging outdoor learning opportunities. Forest School offers a learner centred approach, where children can learn through self-directed play and exploration.

Our school ethos underpins our Forest School entirely. Children throughout the school understand and reflect on being Responsible, Ambitious, Individuals and Explorers on a regular basis; and use their creativity and problem-solving skills to address challenges, solve problems and develop their love of the world around them.

Forest school activities always underpin the learning that is happening within each class curriculum – whether children are having to solve maths conundrums for Macbeth, finding and excavating dinosaur bones or baking bread for a Viking tribe – children will be taking inspiration from their learning experiences into new and exciting outdoor adventures.

Children’s ideas and suggestions are always shared and celebrated and often form the basis of future sessions in order to make each experience both relevant and exciting for the children involved. 

Forest school is also a wonderful opportunity for children to develop a lifelong love of the outdoors. In our ever-changing world, children can find that their experiences amongst local wildlife inspire empathy, creativity and scientific understanding of their surroundings and will lead them to ask questions and have a clearer understanding of their impact on their planet.

The most important rule of Forest School is to HAVE FUN!