Forest School at Great Linford

Eco Warriors
At our school we believe that outdoor learning is an important part of a child's development. Forest School is 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. Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education.

Children throughout Foundation Stage and key Stage 1 are able to access the outdoor learning and develop confidence and a greater understanding of the natural environment around them. Throughout their sessions, children also access the PE curriculum and learn about the importance of active and healthy lifestyles.
Our school is excited to begin rolling out a new Eco Warriors Scheme. A group of children from year 3 are proud to take part in the new programme run by Milton Keynes Council, to encourage the school community and their families to look after our planet. The Eco Warrior team will be carrying out challenges that focus on the importance of recycling, learning about and looking after our wildlife. Activities include rolling out more environmentally friendly ways of managing school waste such as composting and setting up water butts. They will also be inviting their families to join in activities from home, including recycling plastic bottles to make bird feeders and complete flower and bird spotting activities. Well done to the new team for getting to work to win a new award for our school!
Summer term in Forest School:
Children  will be observing and learning about summer plant growth as the weather warms along with the different minibeasts we will now start to see.  They will have opportunity to learn about life cycles through observation along with using links to texts and a selection of life cycle models.  Creative activities such as pebble painting, building natural structures, making journey sticks, chalking and weaving will be on offer along with a free choice of traditional Forest School activities including den and structure building, playing in the mud kitchen, painting with mud and creating independently. 
Within our Forest School P.E. and outdoor adventure learning sessions children will take part in completing simple trails in teams,  following sets of instructions and using memory and recognisable landmarks. They will be encouraged to think about different ways of moving and have the chance to complete their own trails and obstacle courses and work in teams to complete a variety of tasks and challenges.  They will also enjoy favourite traditional games, including Stuck in the Mud and Fox and Hen.