Forest School

Intent

The intent of Forest School at Grange is to inspire and nurture learners of all ages through positive, meaningful outdoor experiences. Forest School is offered to all pupils and provides a long-term, child‑centred approach that supports play, exploration and managed risk‑taking. We aim to develop confident, resilient learners with a deep understanding of the natural world, themselves and their place within it.

 Implementation

Forest School sessions take place regularly within our varied outdoor environments, including a managed Forest School area, a wild woodland strip restored to its natural state, a developing wild meadow, and a recently planted orchard and saplings that support biodiversity and sustainability. Sessions are carefully planned by the Forest School leader while also allowing space for child led learning, curiosity and discovery.

Pupils develop practical outdoor skills such as safe tool use, fire lighting, shelter and tent building, and explore the environment throughout the changing seasons. Older pupils act as Forest School Ambassadors, supporting younger learners and modelling skills and enthusiasm. Pupils can also participate in twice-yearly camp‑out experiences, open to all who wish to join.

Impact

Through Forest School, pupils build independence, confidence, self-esteem and teamwork skills while developing resilience and a love of learning outdoors. They gain practical knowledge of the natural world and apply learning across areas such as physical development, communication, literacy, mathematics, creativity and scientific understanding.

Combined with our Forest School provision, on-site farm experiences and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, pupils leave Grange set up for life in the outdoors, with the skills, confidence and appreciation needed to engage positively with the world and environment around them.