Forest Schools

At Wybunbury Delves, our Forest School learning is highly regarded by both our children and staff.

When asked to reflect on their Forest School experiences the children explained:
'I enjoyed making fires because you really feel you have achieved something.'

'I have enjoyed making the fires because it was fun to do all of the preparation and to light it with a fire steel. The skills that I will take to high school are: teamwork, resilience and following instructions.'

'Everything I have learnt will help me in high school, especially teamwork.'

'My favourite thing was learning how to use a fire steel safely because I never knew how to use one and I was a bit worried at the start.'

'I've learnt to be patient with waiting and I could take that with me when I get in the classroom.'

We feel that the time spent outside is vitally important to build our children's confidence, resilience and team work skills. Children explore, learn and develop in the outdoors whatever the season or weather.

Our Forest School Area has an outdoor classroom, a range of young and mature trees, habitat areas and an abundance of wildlife. Currently each class from Year 1-6 spend half a term learning the following skills with Mr Hadfield.

The Forest School key skills that are covered during these sessions:

• Learn and cope with new things
• Relate and cooperate with others
• Empathise and show respect with others
• Concentration and communication skills
• Resilience – coping with difficulties and setbacks
• Understand and solve problems
• Develop and use imagination and creativity
• Team work and work ethic
• Time management and delegation
• Managing risk – to themselves and others
• Turn taking and negotiation
• Listening and following instructions

Clothing

The children will need appropriate clothing that will protect them from extremes of weather, keep them covered to reduce the likelihood of cuts and scrapes, and is comfortable to be outside in for an extended period of time. The sessions could become muddy and wet. They will take place in the rain.

Clothing list:

• Full length trousers/leggings/joggers, not jeans,
• Waterproof trousers (optional)
• Waterproof coat, with a hood (essential)
• Long sleeved top and layers to keep warm (these can be removed or added as needed)
• Wellies / walking boots / old trainers which can get wet or muddy
• Warm socks, and a spare pair
• Gloves and woolly hat – cold weather
• Sun hat and sun cream: that fits well to ensure good visibility- sunny weather

We work on the principle that "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing".