OUR AMAZING FOREST AND COASTAL SCHOOL. 

At Westmeads all our children are fortunate to receive a full Forest and Coastal School learning experience.

Westmeads Forest and Coastal School is led by a fully qualified Forest and Coastal School Leader. 

We are passionate and dedicated about facilitating children's emotional well-being, confidence and self-esteem, whilst developing a love of nature and the great outdoors.

What is Forest School at Westmeads?

Forest School at Westmeads happens at Clowes Woods at our 2 allocated sites shown below. All the children at Westmeads take their turn across the whole year to have a whole term of Forest School in a real woods !

Some information about Forest School.

• The setting is not the usual one. Whether it is actually in a wood…or in an outdoor area, it is defined as Forest School because it is where Forest School rules apply, not those of the setting that the children have come from.
• The Forest School is made as safe as it is reasonably possible, in order to facilitate children’s risk-taking.
• Forest School happens over time…most experienced forest school leaders recommend blocks of ten weeks…children who are given longer opportunities to participate in Forest School sessions exhibit play and focus that is progressively deeper and more meaningful, and the benefits can be felt when they are back in their usual environments.
• There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. The only time it is unsafe to go into the woods is in high winds.
• Trust is central
• The learning is play-based and, as far as possible, child-initiated and child-led. Forest school is about an internal process of holistic development, something that is difficult to achieve in a busy classroom, indoor or out.
• The blocks and the sessions have beginnings and ends…each session has its rituals at the beginning and end to signal the difference and specialness of Forest School.
• Where possible staff are trained.

Forest School Promotes...

• Confidence and independence grows in the natural environment giving a sense of success and self-esteem.
• Development of relationships with other children and adults.
• Adaptation to new situations, trying new activities and openness to experiences.
• Children can become more motivated to use extensive language and vocabulary for different contexts and questions become more specific.
• Physical development- enhanced stamina, gross and fine motor skills
• 6 key thinking and learning skills enquiry, hypothesis, information processing, decision making, communication and vocabulary, review and evaluation are experienced regularly.
• Children’s attitudes to outdoors changes, respect for the environment begins to develop and they want to spend time in the great outdoors.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Forest school.  In their final session block Year 2 learned how to tie a clove hitch knot, collect evidence to identify trees, plants and wildlife.  We finished the session by working together and creating a tree using natural resources.