For years the far end of our secret garden was gated off and not accessible to the children.  Taken by brambles, over-grown trees and the insects and plants that thrive in such an environment.  

In 2017 a parent and a teacher, both with an interest in Forest Schools, set about investigating the possibility of turning this disused part of the garden into something magnificent for our children.  At this is exactly what has happened.  

A Forest School is literally that – a school in the forest.  It is a carefully structured, fun vehicle for outdoor learning, delivered through first-hand experience in a natural habitat. It uses the natural resources in the woodland and the children’s interests to stimulate imaginative, creative and investigative activities. Children can whittle sticks, hunt for mini beasts, help to light fires, make mud pies and build shelters.

Forest Schools is a proven ethos and approach that works for children.  It gives them the time and space to become confident and motivated young learners and provides for their holistic well-being. It reinforces, not only the importance of the outdoor environment as a motivating and relevant context for learning, but that given a degree of freedom and responsibility, children can become successful, independent learners who are considerate, creative and content.  

​We offer weekly forest school sessions to pupils who attend the school as part of the curriculum. ​Five members of staff have been trained to Level 2 & 3 Forest School practitioners in order to run the sessions and training in this area is ongoing.  

Our future plans include enabling local schools and user groups access to the Forest School, so that more local children can benefit from the outdoor space and have the opportunity to experience Forest School sessions.