FOREST SCHOOL
Leaders hold Level 3 Forest School Qualification
Forest School Programmes run during the Thursday morning sessions for the Rainbows Group and Monday afternoon sessions for the Raindrops Group. Each Forest School Programme runs for 12 weeks (a school term), on a site of our local woodlands in Canford Heath. During the 12 weeks Programme children learn about the area in depth, experiencing how the natural environment changes over time, and in the various weather conditions. We work towards achieving an identified learning outcome, which can be through a project or overarching theme. Children will learn how to use tools safely and independently and will have the opportunity to explore their fascinations, make new discoveries and most importantly, develop their self-esteem and social skills to feel good about themselves and to have positive interaction with peers.
Why?
The Forest School approach session was established to connect our children to nature, inspiring them to live a naturally healthy lifestyle that builds resilience, confidence, independence and self-motivation – all the characteristics they need for positive well-being and to be successful in life.
During the session we continue to adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage, as in all other sessions of Jumping Jellybeans Pre-school. The only difference being that the setting is an outdoor natural environment and the adult to child ratio is higher (1 adult : up to 3 children – age 2 years) (1 adult : 4 children – age 3 & 4 years)
‘School readiness’ is a term used by the local authority and relates to the expectations of abilities that a child should have obtained when entering the Reception Year. To us at Jumping Jellybeans, ‘school readiness’ not only means reaching the developmental miles stones of the EYFS, but also means being a confident, independent, self-motivated, curious, resilient, and an enthusiastic learner. It means having characteristics of empathy and kindness and knowing that failure is merely an opportunity to try again. All these characteristics can naturally develop during the Forest School experience.
What happens?
During the session children play and explore the world around them. Practitioners ensure the children know that we have confidence in their own abilities of exploration and discovery, risk assessment, risk taking and finding solutions and answers, which enables the children to flourish.
The natural environment provides plenty of opportunities to enhance the children’s Physical development, using fine and gross motor skills, i.e. children are constantly running, climbing, swinging, jumping, balancing, slithering, as well as threading, tying knots, mark making, picking up small objects etc.
Play during the Forest School approach session is naturally collaborative and very sociable, as we all talk together, share our excitement of our discoveries and help each other. The natural environment offers a calm space in which we can stop, think and reflect, and practitioners can find out more about the children’s feelings and wishes. This supports children to have the ability to reflect and be peaceful in the busy world of today.
Toileting
Children use the toilet at Jumping Jellybeans before we leave the setting, and we find that they do not usually need to go again until we return. If a child does need the toilet when we are out, we have a screened off area where the child can use our disposable potty. Hands are washed using bottled water and baby wipes and antibacterial hand gel. All soiled materials are kept in a plastic bag and disposed of once back in Jumping Jellybeans indoor setting.