Wealden Times | WT208 | June 2019 | Kitchen & Bathroom supplement inside

Education
The Great Outdoors
Hilary Wilce explores the benefits of forest schools
Not long ago, I was walking with a friend through
local woods when we came across a ring of tree
stumps and various hazel dens and rope swings.
“Oh, it’s probably the local primary’s forest school,” she said
casually as she marched on. I looked at her, astonished. This is
someone who has no contact with children or education, yet
she was completely familiar with the idea of a forest school.
What a contrast to 20 years ago when I travelled to South
Wales to visit one of the very first forest schools set up in this
country. Back then the idea that schools should send infants
out to play and learn in the woods was almost unheard of, but
the reality was enchanting. These were children from poor
estates, who had needed to be taught how to walk and run
on uneven ground because their parents were too frightened
even to let them loose in the local drug-infested parks. But
by the time I visited them they were covered in mud, reeking
of wood smoke and shrieking with glee as they made camps,
collected pine cones, stirred puddles and
generally behaved how small children should.
Since then thousands of forest schools have
been set up, in all kinds of different ways. If
schools don’t have land of their own, they partner
with nature trusts or nearby private schools to
make use of available woodland. Universities
and colleges run forest schools, and in cities, councils have
set aside patches of common for local schools to use. Private
set-ups have also got in on the act, offering high-end private
forest school experiences for parents prepared to pay. A few
forest schools are hard-core, full-time woodland institutions
with no indoor classrooms to retreat to, but most schools offer
something like a weekly half-day in the woods for every child.
But even a weekly taster brings great benefits. Children
grow in confidence, acquire new skills, learn to handle
risk, learn about nature, and get healthier by being
active in the woods. Very occasionally, children with
severe health or behaviour problems can’t handle the
weather or the freedom, but by and large schools say
all their children gain from the forest experience.
The biggest danger seems to be that the idea of a forest school
could become watered down by the bland British education
“The key thing
to remember
is that it’s all
about freedom”
machine. In Scandinavia, where the idea came from, there’s a
firm view that this should be a child-led experience, where pupils
are regularly turned out into the woods in all weathers, and over
a long period of time, to invent, explore and imagine. If this
involves risky things such as tree-climbing or penknife wielding,
then so be it. Here we tend to be more cautious, keeping one eye
on the weather and carefully shoe-horning forest school learning
into the national curriculum framework. A sad sign of this
was when Ofsted inspectors declined to label one forest school
excellent, because, the inspectors said, it offered no opportunities
for pupils to learn how to turn technical equipment on and off!
Even worse, some schools are climbing on to the bandwagon
by putting one staff member through forest school training,
then advertising themselves as forest schools even though
pupils do little more than occasionally walk in the park.
As summer comes in, it’s worth thinking how we can
replicate the benefits of forest schooling at home. The key
thing to remember is that it’s all about freedom.
Encourage children to go outside, make sure
they’re well-equipped for cold or wet, and then
leave them to it. If the possibilities of the garden
or park are limited, take them to the woods, or
the beach – then take a back seat as they invent
and explore. Obviously it’s important to keep an
eye out for safety concerns, but try your best not to fuss, forbid
or instruct. Children are naturally creative. Give them the time,
space and freedom to concoct their own games, to try out ideas,
and then to try out other ideas when the first ones don’t work.
If they seem reluctant to go outdoors, or listless when they get
there, give them a nudge or two. Propose a family game of hide
and seek, make up a treasure hunt, or suggest an activity like
constructing a den, or drawing in the sand. You’ll find thousands
of ideas for outdoor activities online. If your inner Boy Scout
or Girl Guide kicks in, you could build a fire and cook
marshmallows together, or pitch a tent and let older children
try and sleep outside for the night (they’ll probably come in).
Remember – all these things will teach children
more about themselves and the world around them
than any number of hours staring at a screen – and
they’ll be lots healthier and happier as well.
165 wealdentimes.co.uk