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Forest School at Leigh Academy Milestone
Forest School has been proven to support the holistic development of children through child-led learning in an outdoor environment. Forest School at Leigh Academy Milestone aims to support emotional, social and physical development of students through providing opportunities to take supported risks, work and play in social groups and explore nature through child-initiated activities. The use of tools and natural resources encourages creativity and imaginative skills. Forest school at Leigh Academy Milestone promotes independence, problem solving skills and communication skills, which in turn boosts confidence and self-esteem. Forest School encourages principled learners, who care about the environment and are aware of the changing world around them. Being in nature has been proven to have a positive impact on mental health and Forest School provides students with time outdoors, away from technology and the structured and directed classroom environment. Transdisciplinary learning will be brought from the classroom into Forest School making cross-curricular links to the IB topics students will be studying each term.
As part of our Outdoor Learning curriculum, students will attend Forest School sessions led by a trained Forest School leader, the class teacher and the class teams. Students will have the freedom to guide their own learning, with activities such as exploring the woodland environment, building dens, finding minibeasts, climbing trees and erecting temporary shelters. Where appropriate, students shall be taught to use hand tools to create woodland crafts, building on skills they have learnt with each session. A key part of the Forest School experience is a campfire and completing campfire cooking, following safety procedures with adult supervision. Students will be supported in cooking a range of foods using different techniques.
Forest School is held in a secure area within the grounds of Leigh Academy Milestone main site in New Ash Green. It shall be held whatever the weather so students should be dressed appropriately. We recommend students wear layers, with a waterproof coat and wellington boots for cold weather and removable layers, boots and sun protection in warm weather.
The Principles of Forest School
Principle 1: Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School.
Principle 2: Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
Principle 3: Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners
Principle 4: Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
5. Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
6. Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning.
Modules 4, 5 & 6:
Learning Objective: I can practise my pencil control when completing woodland crafts.
Learning Objective: I can show preference of Forest School activities.
Learning Objective: I can find and choose resources with which to engage.
Learning Objective: I can practice my hand eye coordination.
Learning Objective: I can do some crafting using natural resources.
Learning Objective: I can use a microscope with support to investigate natural resources.
Learning Objective: I can engage in parallel play, exploring water using jugs, bowls and colanders.
IMG_2553.MOVLearning Objective: I can use my fine motor skills when exploring cause and effect.
Learning Objective: I can share my love of reading with my peers.
Learning Objective: I can use cups, jugs and sieves in exploratory play.
Learning Objective: I can recognise numerals in the world around me.
Learning Objective: I can explore a pre-made shelter.
Learning Objective: I can engage in small group exploratory play.
Learning Objective: I can listen to a story in an outdoor environment.
Learning Objective: I can find and choose resources with which to engage in imaginative play.
Learning Objective: I can use my problem solving skills when building a house or tower.
Learning Objective: I can explore different textures found in the Forest School area during imaginative role play.
Learning Objective: I can explore different textures found in the Forest School area during imaginative role play.
Learning Objective: I can find and identify minibeasts.
Learning Objective: I can create minibeasts that I have found, using natural resources.
Learning Objective: I can use my communication skills in imaginative play.
Learning Objective: I can use my balance and coordination skills to move across stepping stones.
Learning Objective: I can use natural resources in imaginative play in small groups.
Learning Objective: I can build and explore a lean to shelter with the support of an adult.
IMG_0229.MOVLearning Objective: I can explore water and its properties.
Learning Objective: I can use a mallet with full support.
Learning Objective: I can mark make using natural materials (charcoal).
Learning Objective: I can sit sensibly around a campfire, with adult support.
Water vidLearning Objective: I can observe the effects of my actions.
Learning Objective: I can share resources as part of a group.
Learning Objective: I can mark make with a range of materials.
Learning Objective: I can explore the properties of natural resources.
Learning Objective: I can share a space with a peer in a different environment.
Learning Objective: I can explore the Forest School area, engaging with a wider range of resources.
Learning Objective: I can anticipate the effects of my actions.
Learning Objective: I can find mini-beats with adult support.
Learning Objective: I can find signs of spring.
Learning Objective: I can participate in den making activities which are led by staff.
Learning Objective: I can anticipate the effects of my actions.
Learning Objective: I can anticipate the effects of my actions.
Learning Objective: I can try new foods, cooked over a fire.
Learning Objective: I can use sieves, jugs and funnels during water play.
Learning Objective: I can share an experience or resource with a small group of peers.
Learning Objective: I can share my thoughts and ideas during imaginative play with a peer.
Learning Objective: I can share new activities and resources with a peer.
Learning Objective: I can try new food or drink, cooked on a campfire.
World Book Day. Learning Objective: I can sit appropriately around a fire and try hot chocolate, made on the campfire.
World Book Day. Learning Objective: I can discuss what is happening in a story.
Learning Objective: I can use a structure built by an adult.
Learning Objective: I can show preference for Forest School activities.
Learning Objective: I can enjoy a shared experience with my peers.
Learning Objective: I can explore a waterproof structure built by an adult.
Modules 1, 2 & 3:
Module 3
Students in Phase 1 have been wrapped up warm and enjoying a wide variety of wintery weather this module. We have had rain, wind, snow and hailstones, as well as some sunny days too! Students have been building on their communication and social skills through shared experiences and activities, including group story sessions, craft activities and parachute games. We have also benefited from a donation of a larger mud kitchen, which has provided lots of opportunities for fine motor skills, turn taking and imaginative exploration.
Learning objective: I can experience different weathers, dressing appropriately on a windy day.
Learning objective: I can experience different weathers, dressing appropriately for hail.
Learning objective: I can experience different weathers, using a shelter for cover during a hail storm.
Learning objective: I can communicate with a peer during a shared activity.
Learning objective: I can communicate and share with my peers during a chosen activity.
Learning objective: I can communicate with peers and adults during a chosen activity.
Learning objective: I can mark-make using a range of media.
Learning objective: I can mark-make using a range of media.
Learning objective: I can mark-make using a range of media.
Learning Objective: I can control a tool with adult support.
Learning Objective: I can observe the effects of my actions, when using fine motor skills.
Learning Objective: I can choose a book to enjoy in a different environment.
Learning Objective: I can share a book with an adult in a variety of environments.
Learning Objective: I can explore and engage with natural phenomena.
Learning Objective: I can explore a new environment, practising gross motor skills.
Module 2
LO: I can use natural resources to create a piece of art.
Using salt-free dough and natural materials, students have been following directions to create woodland faces.
LO: I can choose and show preference for natural resources.
Phase 1 pupils have been expressing themselves through woodland crafts, choosing natural resources to make hanging decorations.
LO: I can listen to, and follow, directions.
There have been some super communicators in Forest School this week, listening to instructions, following directions and sharing ideas.
LO: I can explore an environment using all of my senses.
Students have been exploring our Forest School area using all of their senses. They have explored the smells of different herbs and plants, sounds from musical instruments and the textures of ice and mud!
LO: I can explore changes to the seasons.
The cold weather has brought ice to Forest School. Students have enjoyed exploring its feel and texture, breaking it to explore how fragile it is and even investigating what it tastes like!
LO: I can engage with new materials and resources.
To celebrate Nursery Rhyme Week, Phase 1 pupils have been having a teddy bears' picnic at Forest School. They have been enjoying sensory trays, music and play food, whilst sharing the area with their furry friends.
Module 1
LO: I can choose natural resources to include in my learning.
With the leaves falling from the trees, the Forest School area has a lovely carpet of yellow, red and brown. Students have been using the leaves and sticks in their activities.
LO: I can engage in exploratory play.
Students in Phase 1 have been exploring the Forest School area, using their curiosity to engage with new experiences.
LO: I can use words, sign and or gesture to communicate my needs and wants.
Students in Phase 1 have been great communicators, sharing the hammock in small groups and expressing their wants; asking for the hammock to be rocked.
LO: I can engage in exploratory play.
Water has been an exciting element of our Forest School sessions, with students led inquiry into how water reacts with different resources.
LO: I can navigate through the Forest School area.
Students have been working on their gross motor skills when exploring the Forest School area. They have been super risk-takers when navigating obstacles.
Can you help?
During Forest School, students have the opportunity to express their creativity and use problem solving skills in a range of different activities, using lots of different resources. We would gratefully receive any donations of the following items for use within our Forest School and outdoor learning areas:
Tree stumps
Long branches (4 to 8 cm in diameter)
Native seeds or bulbs
Tinder and kindling
Cotton sheets, table cloths or pillow cases (torn, ripped or holey, we don’t mind!)
Gardening forks or trowels
Metal pots, saucepans, baking trays, muffin tins etc
Wool or string
The Nineveh Charitable Trust
The Nineveh Charitable Trust has generously granted Milestone £1500 to go towards resources to improve our outside spaces and learning opportunities. We were able to purchase a wide selection of wellington boots and waterproof clothing for the wet weather, a portable sink to ensure hygiene procedures can be followed outdoors, weather and emotion identification boards and a wide range of learning resources. We are very grateful for this kind donation and are excited to use them to support out students' outdoor learning.
The Nineveh Charitable Trust RCN 256025 www.ninevehtrust.org.uk
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