What is Forest School?

The Forest Schools initiative has gained nationwide recognition as a highly effective way of introducing children to the great outdoors, while at the same time enabling them to develop a wide range of transferable skills. Whatever the weather, our children will be found making dens and shelters, lighting campfires, learning about the natural environment and how to cherish it, practising basic survival skills and bushcraft and benefiting from lots of fresh air.

We believe that the Forest Schools programme provides an excellent vehicle for learning and development. Children have a great affinity with the natural world. It arouses their curiosity and inspires wonder. It is a superb environment in which to assimilate knowledge and develop all manner of skills such as teamwork, good communication, problem solving, self-confidence, risk awareness and a positive mental attitude.

Kit List

As Forest School runs throughout the year, come rain or shine, it is important that parents send their children into school dressed appropriately (or in a bag if they are participating in the pm session)

The only time Forest School may be cancelled due to inclement weather is high winds, sessions will still run even if it is raining heavily (with appropriate adaptations made by Forest School Leaders).

As the weather gets cooler during the Autumn and Winter months, children will need to wear/bring lots of layers, the more the better.

A suggested kit list is as follows: 

- Jogging bottoms/ comfortable trousers
- A long sleeved T-shirt (or two if it’s super cold) with a jumper or sweatshirt on top 
- Boots which are ideally waterproof walking boots (may need respraying with water proof spray from time to time) as these are better at insulating the feet when it’s really cold but if not lots of socks and wellies will be fine.

- Two pairs of socks 

- Waterproof trousers and a waterproof coat with a hood.
- Gloves and hats

- Thermal base layers (optional if your child gets cold quickly).

Important Session dates for 2024/25

The below table displays when each year group will be participating in Forest School sessions throughout the academic year.  Please make a note of the start and end date which relates to your child.

Donations

Any donations of wellies, trousers, long sleeves tops or coats can be placed in the plastic boxes in the shelter.

Plus pans, wooden spoons, conkers, pinecones, den building sticks, stainless steel pots and pans, tyres, baking trays .

Thanks so much for all the donations so far.

Have a read about what our children have been up to in Forest School!

11th January 2024

We have had a fantastic day in Forest School at Dingle Community Forest School.

We have had some reception children out first thing and then year three and in the afternoon we had year four! The children in year three are studying the Stone Age so we had great fun learning to build a really good shelter. We used three y sticks ,and the children learnt to place a log at the bottom of each stick to stop it slipping. We then used rope to secure it. We talked about how the cavemen would have used nettles and brambles to make into cord to tie things! The children used the loppers to cut up an old Christmas tree to make some brash to waterproof their shelters. The children really enjoyed making a Stone Age camp!

The children got to know the site and enjoyed the muddy puddle , grass sledge , mini beast hunting and bug hunting! We talked about the different areas and how we can develop them.

After reflection time we enjoyed a hot chocolate and a biscuit around the fire. We learnt how to whittle with a potato peeler and then a knife to make stakes to help waterproof our dens. The children talked about how in the Stone Age the people would use animal skins! Some children learnt how to whittle carefully checking no one is in their bubble and then they also did some firefighting ! Next week the children would like to collect wood to dry for a Stone Age fire and they want to continue to whittle stakes to build upon their den building skills !

Today the children learnt to use loppers ,potato peelers, a knife and a fire lighter safely. We hope to build upon these skills each week! Well done Dingle Community Primary School ! Susie