As a small village school, set in the Dorset countryside, we are committed to maximising our learning within our rural environment. At Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School, we have an established forest school learning area set in our expansive school grounds. Our forest learning is underpinned with traditional outdoor skills and games to maximise co-operation and collaboration, while making the most of the outdoor environment.
Our learners enjoy weekly forest learning sessions, which form an integral part of of school curriculum. Children from nursery to Year 4 are taught key life skills within our ethos of ‘learning, perseverance and manners’. Carefully planned activities support learning progression with food preparation, the use of tools, fire safety, games and songs.
Our children bring their forest school clothing such as waterproof trousers and jacket, as well as wellington boots, in order to enjoy the outdoor learning experience. We ensure all activities are safe and support the sequential development of forest skills.
Children report overwhelming enjoyment of forest learning, which further supports learning progression across all areas of the curriculum.
Children said, “In Forest School it is very exciting. I wear wellies and long sleeves. We make things with the cooking set and tools. We hide in bushes and one bush is hollow so we play inside. We call it Hollywood. We play in the ditch and climb trees. We play on the swing, make food on the fire. We sing rhymes and songs“.
“We have to wear wellies and waterproofs. We eat our snack there.“