Forest School Training for Otterbourne Primary

We are Otterbourne Church of England primary school and as a team have great enthusiasm for outdoor learning, and spending time in nature with our pupils. We feel as much as children need good nutrition and adequate sleep, they need contact with nature.

Why Forest School?
Forest School differs from our embedded outdoor learning curriculum to encompass a learner centred approach, where the children choose and initiate their own learning and development, developing a deep level of learning. Through forest schooling, children learn to manage risk, helping them to take risks that are reasonable. They develop a positive relationship with the natural world, which is so important for mental, physical and spiritual health.

Learning outdoors is proven to boost children’s confidence. As a school, we believe, children should spend as much time outside as possible as this comes with many benefits including physical and mental health, better concentration, better sleep and less anxiety. Participating in regular Forest School classes will support the children’s understanding and connection to their local environment. It increases their awareness of the importance of their role and impact on their environment, which is more relevant than ever before.

This project would allow us to build upon our lessons by introducing holistic development for all those involved fostering resilient, confidence and creative learners.

Our School 
We’re a bright, lively and creative primary school in the village of Otterbourne, just south of Winchester. We believe in giving children a “hands on” approach to learning where they can experiment and experience activities that inspire them to find out more. We aim to establish a lifelong love of learning and believe that children deserve the very best as they start their learning journey with us. We help children to recognise the positive contribution that they and others can make to our diverse, every-changing society, both to our immediate community and beyond.

What do we want? 
We are lucky to have a fantastic outdoor space at the school, which includes a meadow and woodland area. We want our 260 plus pupils to get the most out of it by teaching outdoors as often as possible under the Forest School ethos.

Forest School is a cross-curricular teaching tool that would allow children to experience a progressive programme from Reception through to Year 6. Funding would enable a trained staff member to work alongside our own staff to deliver a truly integrated outdoor approach.

We need your help! 
We’d like your help to raise funds towards having our first qualified Forest School Teacher. Training one teacher to Forest School Level 3 costs £1,000. Ideally, we would like to have two of our teachers trained to that level. We will also eventually need some extra provisions including a woodland shelter, fire pit tools and wood shed along with whittling tools and fire safety provisions.

“Encouraging a child to go outside in all weathers builds resilience but more importantly it saves them from spending their life merely tolerating the “bad” days in favour of the handful of “good” ones – a life of endless expectations and conditions where happiness hinges on sunshine” 
Nicolette Sowder (Owner and writer at Wilder Child and Wildschooling)