Spring Edition 2019

Learn to be WILD
We explore the growing popularity of Forest School teaching; using natural
environments to develop teamwork, creativity and a sense of adventure
Splash! A groupjump
into the
largest available
muddy puddle is a
much enjoyed end
to a Forest School session at
Winchester’s The Pilgrims’
School. What child doesn’t like
getting wet and muddy?
You might be surprised, says
Forest School Leader Alex Judd,
who explains that plenty of
children won’t have come into
contact with mud before their
first Forest School experience.
Many are terrified at the thought
of getting dirty and look in
horror at their newly muddy
waterproof trousers. Her
group of Year 2 boys had
spent nearly two hours outside
on an almost freezing day, in the
rain and with a keen wind slicing
across the Itchen River feet away.
Not one boy mentioned the
conditions. Perhaps because of
the old adage that there is no
such thing as bad weather, only
the wrong clothing: the children
were little Michelin men in
wellies, waterproofs, hats and
gloves. But it was more a feeling
of being genuinely comfortable
dragging logs into a circle to sit
on, slipping over whilst playing
Sharks & Minnows, and looking
under rotting wood to discover
woodlice and other mini beasts.
This particular Forest School
session tied in with classroom
teaching about space and
astronauts. Alex explained that
her outdoor sessions often add
depth to the curriculum and
aim to develop creativity and,
crucially, independence and
teamwork. Other sessions might
be more bushcraft-specific and
tailored to tool use, climbing
trees, building fires and cooking
and den building. There is an
emphasis on ‘holistic teaching’
– through gentle questioning
and encouragement, alongside
activities, a child’s independence
and self-belief grows.
Once boundaries have been
set (literally – children are shown
the parameters they can roam),
teachers step back. Which can