Research suggests that engaging with nature is key to inner wellbeing. Our leafy setting helps us to fully explore this to ensure children experience natural beauty to connect with nature.

At present, our children at the Tingewick site benefit from attending weekly Forest School provision lead by our fully qualified Forest School Leader and Senior Teacher Mrs Kent.

Our School SENCo, Ms Tanner is currently undergoing her Forest School Leader training to extend this provision to our KS2 children at the Gawcott site.

Alongside connecting with nature and developing inner wellbeing, Forest School has many other benefits which we believe our essential for all children. These include:

• An increase in self belief where children learn to assess, take risks and ultimately achieve
• An increase in confidence where children lead their own learning and success
• Improved planning and problem solving skills as children independently decide how best to resolve a problem
• Promoting how to work as a team to achieve a desired end goal
• Developing key communication skills through collaboration with peers and teachers
• Using all of our senses to experience and learn from
• Increased concentration, focus and motivation through high levels of engagement and interest
• Exercising and strengthening fine and gross motor skills manipulating a range of tools, moving, balancing and climbing
• Promotion of physical health by being active in the outdoors
• Building resilience with the idea of bouncing back and growing from risks taken and mistakes made
• Building respect and care for the natural world and how to take care of our environment to ensure others continue to benefit from it

Please read our Forest School Handbook to further explore our personalised Forest School provision.

We are proud to have been trained by Muddy Feet Training. Please visit their website below to see their inspiring work.