Forest School

Forest Schools

Photo: Carol Durrel / River Photography

Forest School

Specialised, play-based programmes that hand over learning to children while being facilitated by a trained leader. As a result they thrive from the real life experiences that occur in the stimulating woodland.

forest school

Benefits

It has been shown to benefit all children with the following key areas of learning:

Experimentation, mistakes, repetition and improvements.
Risk management.
Improved speaking, listening and vocabulary.
Physical mobility and agility.
Increased self-confidence and awareness of the needs of others.
Increased knowledge and understanding of the natural world.
Learn knots, weaving, tool use, fire lighting and working with wood, plants and soil.
Problem solving and collaboration.
Increased focus and interest in learning.

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For more information contact our Outdoor Learning team
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Essex Wildlife Trust Outdoor Learning team have been delivering Forest School sessions and adult courses since 2008 and Forest School training since 2014.

Forest Schools

Forest School Programmes

Forest School at your site or our reserves run by our experienced Forest School Level 3 leaders.  

We design and deliver bespoke Forest School programmes to suit your setting, working with staff and assessing potential sites to ensure you have a Forest School programme that works for you. We provide all risk assessments and safety checks, tools, equipment and resources and have many years’ experience working with a range of clients including pre-schools, primary schools, home education groups and pupil referral units.

Choose from a six week, term or school year programme.

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Forest School Adult training Level 3

Forest School Training

Essex Wildlife Trust's Outdoor Learning team offer a suite of Outdoor Learning Qualifications including Level 2 and Level 3 Forest School training and the Award in Outdoor Learning Level 2, to equip staff with skills to lead learning outdoors. The courses are all accredited by Agored Cymru (Wales OCN) and on qualifying, all trainees receive an electronic badge shown below. In addition, Essex Wildlife Trust offers Forest School skills days to provide ongoing professional career development for trained adults.

 

 

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Forest School

Photo: Carol Durrel / River Photography

After school clubs

Extend your wraparound care with an Essex Wildlife Trust Forest School after school club at your setting.

We offer Forest School after school clubs for up to 17 children up to 5pm throughout the year at your setting. Our trained leaders offer half term programmes and provide all equipment to deliver the sessions and have years of experience delivering after school Forest School clubs throughout Essex.

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Forest School After School Clubs

Photo: Carol Durrel / River Photography

Weekend and holiday Forest School

Let them play! Drop off Forest School style days are available during holidays and family Forest School sessions during school holidays and weekends at our centres and nature reserves thoughout Essex.

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NATURE TOTS

Forest School Nature Tots

Let them play and learn through nature in our beautiful nature reserves at weekly pre-school Forest School sessions during the week throughout Essex.

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we deliver Forest School sessions throughout Essex on our sites and others and we deliver Forest School training and a wealth of other training for educators to take  learning outdoors.

Our Nature Discovery Centres

Bring your Forest School groups to our centres. Our trained Forest School leaders lead sessions to suit your needs in the beautiful settings of our nature reserves with established log circles and plenty of sustainably harvested natural resources. We provide all risk assessments, tools and resources and trained leaders to deliver your Forest School programme.

Our Nature Discovery Centres
Quality Badge

Essex Wildlife Trust was pleased to be awarded the Quality Badge in October 2018.

The LOtC Quality Badge is a national award combining the essential elements of provision - learning and safety - into ONE easily recognisable and trusted accreditation scheme.

Forest School Leader