At Park, we have four trained Forest Schools practitioners who enable us to offer the Forest Schools provision to children across the Federation.

Forest Schools is so important as it supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It helps the children to develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on experiences in the natural environment.

We are very proud of our Forest Schools area and the children love to work in it. We have a purpose-built cabin for the children to change and have aspects of their session delivered there. We have a campfire area that the children get so excited about and is always a lovely experience for all that take part, and often the first time they have ever had this experience, but also one they always remember.

It is an amazing space to develop children’s imagination and creativity, which is why it plays a key role in the EYFS outdoor experience as well, as they use this area weekly as part of their provision. It is also an area that other year groups use throughout the year; this might be part of their science or geography work, for example, or sometimes to be in a different but stimulating environment for them to complete their work.