What is Forest School?
Forest School is an innovative, self-led learning approach suitable for all ages in a woodland
setting, supported by a trained Forest School Leader.
Forest School originated from Scandinavia, where in Denmark it started as good teaching
practice to use the outdoor environment with children, giving them freedom to play and discover
nature. Forest School first came to the UK in 1993 when a group of British teachers returned
from Denmark with an enthusiasm for a new approach to education – one that put individuals
and the different ways they learn at its centre.
Mersey Forest / Liverpool John Moores University.
Mersey Forest – Thrive in the Forest.
We are one of twelve schools across Sefton to participate in the
programme. We are involved in the FS Project for case studies which
will examine the longer term effects of the FS sessions on mental health
and well-being of the children – for example resilience.
Michelle Whalley from John Moores University has planned research
that is going to be based on child psychological wellbeing, using the
forest school project as a basis for her data collection. She is proposing
the hypothesis that forest school promotes positive mental health and
wellbeing, therefore acting as a preventative measure to child mental
health difficulties.
Liverpool John Moores has also provided Forest School training with
curriculum links for all subject leaders.
2024/2025
Each half term every child in our school will experience a Forest School
session. By the end of the year they will have completed the six session
learning programme. We will also be targeting specific groups of children
to participate in lunch time and after school clubs.
Forest School Dates
Year 6 – 10th September, 6K – 7th November Laurel’s Wood, 6H – 8th November Laurel’s Wood,
Year 5 – 17th September, 14th November,
Year 4 – 26th September, 5th December,
Year 3 – 3rd October, 21st November,
Year 2 – 10th October, 27th November,
Year 1 – 15th October, 28th November,
Reception – 23rd October, 21st November,
Nursery -24th October, 14th November,
Forest School Parent Questionnaire
