Introduction
Welcome to this blog on developing a Forest School written by a group of students studying level 5 in Early Years. Forest Schools can be seen as a dominant feature in many schools today in order to provide children with many learning opportunities through hands on experience. It is defined by Muddyfaces (2015) as using the outdoors environment to focus on children’s learning needs rather than concentrating on learning outcomes. According to Veale (2013) it is not only developed in rural locations but also in urban areas where the forest has been recreated for children, signifying its importance in education today.
Before writing this blog a weekend was spent in the forest where hands on activities provided opportunities to see the forest through a child’s eyes. Department for Education (2012) state that understanding a child’s perspective is important for practitioners to support children in acquiring skills, knowledge and attitudes in order to progress children in the EYFS developmental stages. This along with research has allowed knowledge of effective skills needed that would support the development of a Forest School provision. Research has been carried out by all group members and by working collaboratively the history of Forest School both in the UK and internationally have been explored to develop more knowledge on how this phenomenon has come about today. A much debated question on whether forest school provides significant learning opportunities including the benefits and challenges of providing risky play for children is also to be examined. Critical evaluation of the value of learning and play within a forest school is to be investigated with a final evaluation of the impact of the natural environment on children’s holistic development made. We hope the daily updates are an intriguing read and you find the information useful. Please feel free to make comments below or ask any questions. Reference List Department for Education (2012) Listening to Children’s Perspectives: Improving the Quality of Provision in Early Years Settings. University of Wolverhampton. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/183412/DfE-RR239b_report.pdf (Accessed: 12 September 2015). Muddyfaces (2015) Forest School. Available at: http://www.muddyfaces.co.uk/forest_schools.php (Accessed: 12 September 2015). Veale, F. (2013) Early Years for Levels 4 & 5 and the Foundation Degree. United Kingdom: Hodder Education.
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