Forest Schools

 Forest School at Lavant CE Primary

All children at our school enjoy the fantastic experience of undertaking a yearly Forest School Programme. Each half term a different year group have the opportunity to visit Lavant House for one afternoon per week and undertake activities including story-telling, science, all in an outdoor setting.

The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences. Our Forest school programme has had a very positive impact on the resilience and collaboration of our children.

By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland environment each participant has an opportunity to develop intrinsic motivation, sound emotional and social skills. These, through self-awareness can be developed to reach personal potential.

Forest Schools has demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis. Through play, they have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others.  Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self motivated.

Our children go in all weathers so have to ensure that they have warm, waterproof clothing and footwear.  In the summer months when the weather is warm the children still need to wear long trousers for protection to prevent getting prickled or nettled.   Each Thursday children are taken to Lavant House after they have eaten lunch and are returned in time for the end of the school day. 

For more information about the Forest School philosophy, please click here.