The story so far....

- By Sara Bond

Forest Schools provide play-based learning opportunities for children in forests, not formal teaching. They tailor an educational curriculum to a participant's preferred learning style and interests, rather than the other way round. This makes Forest Schools the sort of places where early years educators feel at home. No surprise then to find that the current incarnation of Forest Schools came from the early years education system in Scandinavia, where 3 to 6 year olds spend a lot of their time outside, and where the saying goes that "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."

Other people who take to Forest Schools are the children themselves. Children of all ages, all abilities and all interests find special places and special things to do in the woods. They find that each of them can succeed at something, and they learn new ways of co-operating and communicating. Forest School leaders are finding that this experience is making a big difference to the lives of children with low self-esteem and lack of confidence. Children with particular needs and children who find indoor schooling hard to take can develop new ways of coping through working in the woods.

As well as educational and social benefits, there are health benefits to large doses of fresh air and exercise. Children developing healthy habits can only help to counter obesity, heart disease and osteoporosis in future generations.

Forest School coverage

Until recently Forest Schools in the UK were largely confined to the west of a line running down the middle of England, and in Wales. Now they are spreading north and east. The Forestry Commission is backing this expansion. In the East of England they have provided funding for our project, Forest Schools East, and are actively supporting our work through their Forest Education Initiative programme. The schools that Forest Schools East have worked with so far are excited by the experience, and the benefits that it has brought to their children. They are keen to carry on the work that we have started.

What happens

Groups of about 14 children with two adult leaders spend a half day every week for a minimum of six weeks (and preferably longer) in forest setting. They build a shelter, learn to keep themselves safe, and enjoy a range of exploratory opportunities. They go out in every weather condition except high wind, when the risk of falling branches is too great.

At Forest School East we have started by working with mostly 4 to 7 year olds, believing that a return to the Scandinavian roots would help ground our understanding of the Forest School ethos and methodologies. We plan to work with older children from the autumn, beginning with some children who have left mainstream settings for a range of reasons. As we work with different groups we are developing materials that we will make available to other trained Forest School leaders via this website,

In our Forest School sessions we have seen shy children find a voice, and children who find it hard to concentrate focus on their chosen activity for an hour at a time. Children who can't sit still in conventional classrooms are finding it a truly liberating experience. Those with learning difficulties can go at their own pace and use their own strengths to achieve.

Elsewhere the evidence from colleagues is that Forest School works very well with children of all ages. It is particularly effective for children with behavioural and/or emotional difficulties, or with learning difficulties.