Outdoor Learning
We believe in the value of Forest School as an inspirational process that offers all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. Our ethos is based on a respect for children and their capacity to initiate, investigate and maintain curiosity in the world around them. We aim to give children the opportunity to experience risk in a controlled way, along with developing their emotional intelligence through social interaction, and therefore having a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Our aim is that children who struggle learning indoors are given opportunities to develop new ways of learning and coping with the world. Children are encouraged to direct their own learning - this is often inspired by the Forest School leader either through stimulating play in the outdoors or through 'scaffolding' a child's learning, but mostly through simply observing how children are in the outdoors.
Our Forest School Leader is Mrs Elkins who works with children throughout the whole school.
Forest School activities are based on a scheme of work called ‘The Wild Passport’ and cover a range of skills in the following areas:
- Woodcraft
- Shelter
- Fire
- Nature
- Rope
At Potley Hill, we are blessed with a beautiful outdoors learning environment ranging from the grounds forest school area to the school's fields. Each class gets to enjoy the experience of Forest School over the school year.
