Livingstone Primary & Nursery School Forest Schools

Our children have the opportunity to:

• identify man-made and natural objects
• sort objects into categories 
• play games e.g. ‘my tree, your tree’
• recognise and name woodland objects
• learn about woodland creatures and insects (even spot a reindeer if we're lucky)
• learn about lake wildlife
• make potions/mud pies
• build dens
• go on a treasure hunt and much more

Forest Schools can have a powerful effect on children’s confidence, self-esteem and independence as well as an increase in social and physical skills.

Confidence – children develop their confidence through having the freedom, time and space to learn and demonstrate independence.

Social skills – children gain an increased awareness of the consequences of their actions on peers through team activities such as sharing tools and participating in play.

Communication – language development is prompted by the children’s sensory experiences.

Motivation and concentration -  the woods fascinate children and develop a keenness to participate and the ability to concentrate over longer periods of time.

Physical skills – these improvements can be characterised by the development of physical stamina and children’s development of gross and fine motor skills.

Knowledge and Understanding – the children develop an interest and curiosity in their natural surroundings along with a respect for the environment.

Forest school can also make a wider impact:

New perspectives – forest school gives the teacher an opportunity to observe the children in a very different setting to the classroom and therefore develop a new understanding of each child as an individual.

Ripple effect – children take their experiences home, talk about them to friends and family, which can sometimes lead to families visiting the woods more frequently.