Our Vision for Forest School

We believe the natural environment is an essential classroom. Our Forest School vision is to provide regular, child-centred outdoor learning experiences that stimulate curiosity, creativity and resilience. Through challenge and supported risk-taking, pupils lead their own learning, developing independence, emotional wellbeing and strong social skills that transfer into the classroom and beyond.

The Forest School Educational Approach 

Forest School at Bottesford is:

• Child-centred: Pupils' interests drive learning priorities; adults observe, question and scaffold rather than dictate.
• Regular and progressive: termly sessions allow skills to deepen, risk to be managed and confidence to grow across the academic year.
• Safely challenging: Activities include managed risk-taking that develops resilience and problem-solving while following rigorous safeguarding protocols.
• Holistic: Sessions explicitly support physical wellbeing, mental health, social skills and academic learning (e.g., measurement in maths, descriptive writing in English, scientific enquiry).
• Inclusive: Activities are adapted to ensure pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils access and benefit from the same opportunities.

How the approach links to our RISE values:

• Respect: Pupils learn environmental stewardship and respectful collaboration.
• Integrity: Honest reflection on decisions and safety underpins all practice.
• Strive: Incremental challenge fosters persistence and progress.
• Empowered: Regular leadership roles and choices create agency.

Our Forest School is based on the junior site. It is accessed by infant and junior pupil's each week.