Forest School

Hebden Royd Forest School

We are on the journey to developing a Forest School site on our school field. This year, we are running Forest School sessions which will be led by Kaomi Murty - Oak Apples Forest School.

Our plan this year is to involve our children in the development of the site, giving them some ownership so that they nurture and take care of our local environment and ultimately, the site becomes a place for them to enjoy in or out of school.

Forest School can play an important role in children’s development and learning, these include:

  • Enhance personal and social development.

  • Learn about the natural environment.

  • Learn problem-solving skills.

  • Build positive relationships.

  • Improve communication skills.

  • Encourage emotional wellbeing.

Early Years

The children in Nursery and Reception have been getting busy engaging with loads of interesting activities down on the forest school site. They have been: building hedgehog houses, working as a team to develop their communication and language skills, bird spotting, making mud animals and bird cakes, having campfires, creating jingle sticks, digging and drinking delicious hot chocolate made on the campfire.

Key Stage 1

In Year 1 & 2 the children have built dens, worked out the age of some of the trees in the surrounding area by measuring the circumference of the trunk. They have also learnt to use tools safely. During The Big Birdwatch, they made nests for the birds and used lard and bird seed to create bird seed balls that they placed in and around the grounds.

Lower Key Stage 2

In Year 3 & 4 the children have been getting busy clearing the area of weeds and unwanted debris, they have learnt how to safely use tools such as hack saws, axes and spades. Year 3 & 4 have planted trees and made candles by melting wax over the fire, they also have made wreaths using ivy vines. The children have loved making dens, spider webs and patterns with leaves and twigs; a few children got to make a fire using flints.

Upper Key Stage 2

In Year 5 & 6 the children have been looking at maps - local maps of the site and beginning to get to grips with matching the maps with landmarks. They have studied map contours and recreated map contours with mud to design their own 3D map. They have used their map reading knowledge to engage in a scavenger hunt to find items and objects in and around the field.