Great Torrington Junior School

 

The philosophy behind Forest School is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age from 3 years upwards, and any groups, through mastery of small achievable tasks in a woodland environment, to grow in confidence and independence so that they develop a sense of self-worth. At Great Torrington the concept is to be widened to include our approach to all work in the outdoors. This will include work within the campus, across the whole of Torrington Commons and in local woodland. For the future, if access can be improved, it will also include the Tarka Trail, bringing opportunities for the children to experience a greater range of habitats and environments.

 

Experience in other settings has shown Forest School to be inspirational, opinion changing and challenging. It raises expectations and develops an insight into individual learning styles and schemas. It is personally and socially uplifting so laying the foundations for other learning. Unlike other forms of outdoor education which generally concentrate on team building, challenging activities or competitiveness, the Forest School embraces an entirely different approach through the nurturing, support and development of the self-esteem of participants. This is particularly important for us in Great Torrington as the schools have identified the low esteem of many of our children as a barrier to learning and higher standards.

 

For the junior school curriculum (Key Stage 2) we need to acknowledge that during middle childhood children feel a deep urge to move into a larger world away from home to find a place for themselves. They have a need to create dens, shelters and forts and through making these special places they experience themselves as shapers and makers of small worlds, contributing to them becoming active makers in their adult lives.

 

As teachers, we need to acknowledge the unique world making desires of middle childhood, and the children’s interest at this age in the outdoors, environmental issues and working with natural materials, and to shape a curriculum that will provide appropriate experiences that build on these interests.

 

At Great Torrington Junior School the Forest School curriculum is an entitlement for all children. Every child is able to access a Forest School session for a half a day every week. To enable this to happen appropriate wet weather clothing is provided by the school although we do request parents to consider supplying their children with their own. Assessments of each activity and settings establish access issues for children and adults with disabilities and planning takes these into consideration to ensure wherever possible full access for everyone.