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Downs View Infant School

What is a Forest School?

A Forest School is an outdoor learning environment with a child-centred learning process that focuses on play, exploration and supported risk-taking. Both problem-solving and self-discovery are important features of Forest Schools. Encouraging children to learn through hands-on experiential learning in a natural setting helps to develop their confidence and self-esteem and encourage them to be physically active.

The benefits of forest school are…

  • An increase in self-belief
  • An increase in confidence
  • Improved problem-solving skills
  • Communication skills
  • An increase in motivation and concentration
  • The development of physical skills and motor skills
  • Promotes emotional intelligence
  • Focus on physical health
  • Builds resilience
  • Encourages children to have a positive impact on the environment and to respect and care for the natural world

                  

 

Latest News:

We have a new pond!

The Friends of Downs View and the Kennington Co-Op have worked together through the community causes programme to raise funds for the purchasing of a new pond. Parent volunteers gave up their time to help install this. Over the next few months, hopefully with a bit of natural help , to fill the pond with water, wild life will return to our Forest School area.  We can’t wait for the children to be able to explore and learn about pond life once more! 

 

We have a rope ladder! 

The children wanted to be able to climb the tree by the entrance to forest school, but found it too difficult even after trying to use branches as a make-shirt ramp. After discussing possible solutions, they decided building a ladder would be the best way to allow them to climb the tree. The children collected newly felled branches, used the bow saw to cut the branches to the correct length, then tied the rope to the tree and then the logs onto the rope (using figure of eight knots) to make an amazing rope ladder!

 

Hiring Forest School 

 

 

 

 

               

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