Cheshire: Pupils to benefit from on-site forest school

Source: CPMM Media Group

A Catholic primary school in Runcorn is making strides to enhance its curriculum through an on-site forest school.

Outdoor education, particularly the forest school, improves children's holistic development, health and fitness, communication skills, resilience, and individuality. It allows for links to be made to current topics being learnt too.

St Augustine's Catholic Primary School and Nursery in the Castlefields area is proud to offer this Scandinavian education-inspired experience to its very own pupils and is training its staff to be qualified in leading sessions.

The forest school is based on the extensive school grounds which comprise an adventure centre, meadow, woodland area, and an allotment for growing fruit and vegetables in addition to a treehouse and bridge.

Earlier this month, teacher, Jessica Jones, became the school's first fully qualified forest school facilitator following the completion of a Level 3 qualification. Already, she has made significant improvements to the provision, including the rebuild of a fire pit where children will learn about lighting fires and cooking. (See Jess with pupils in picture above with their fire pit.)

Speaking about the provision, Jessica said: "The children at St Augustine's thoroughly enjoy their forest school sessions and we have already identified a number of benefits, including the mental wellbeing of those pupils who are engaged with it. It is great that we can now facilitate more broadly with myself in leading the sessions and using them to further enrich the school ethos.

"We are delighted with the environment we have created; it has so much to offer and will support our children's holistic development and work alongside our curriculum. What is better than learning life skills through cooking on an open fire; learning to count but finding bluebells; or even developing our core strength by climbing a tree to support our handwriting? The opportunities are endless, and I am just as excited as the children to begin the sessions."

Children at St Augustine's will take part in a wide range of sessions based on their own needs and interests. Activities available include hunting for minibeasts, crafting necklaces and crowns, shelter building, climbing, and much more.

Whilst the learning experience will be enjoyed by groups of pupils across the whole school, those who are vulnerable will be especially targeted to further support their needs in an engaging way that may be more suitable for them.

Jessica, alongside other members of staff, will also be running a regular afterschool forest school, which is designed to encourage outside learning to a greater extent.

Interim headteacher of St Augustine's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, John Marciniak, commented: "We're absolutely thrilled to be able to deliver an exciting outdoor learning experience for our pupils. It is important that we expand their education and take learning outside the classroom, providing a sense of freedom and community. The values shared during forest school are part of a thread that runs through the heart of our curriculum, and we appreciate how well the children respond to learning in this way.

"As we now have Jessica as our first fully qualified facilitator, we can implement forest school deeper into school life and we're looking forward to growing our ideas to provide even more unique opportunities for pupils in Runcorn."

LINK

St Augustine's Catholic Primary School: www.st-augustines.halton.sch.uk