Forest School

Forest School Fun

Since school returned in September, Miss Dunn and Miss Gilbert have been taking the lead in our Forest School activites. Along with help from other members of staff and volunteers, they have vastly improved our fantastic outdoor area.

The first task was a massive litter picking - the whole area needed clearing out. Then during half term week, yet more work, including Mr Pettigrew, our new Site Maintenance Officer, spending several days clearing the hard standing area of glass, moss and dirt. Miss Gilbert pulled some strings and managed to get a local businesses to donate timber and other resources which have been put to good use.

Every year group has been making weekly use of the newly refurbed area, and are thoroughly enjoying exploring and experiencing the outdoor classroom. Everyone comes back muddy but smiling, and the photographs speak for themselves!

Litter Picking - so much plastic!

What can we make with all this?

Autumnal Adventures

Who got stuck in the mud??

Campfire cooking

Woodland Themed Activity Day

We were delighted to welcome representatives from The Mersey Forest. The children celebrated their successful bid for a variety of trees and srhubs by planting them on the school field. The planting of these trees not only paves the way to a brighter future for the children and community but also is a step closer to the development of our Forest School.

As groups of children were busy planting trees, the rest of the school took part in Forest School activities which included; orienteering, den building, scavenger hunts and environmental art where the children produced a piece of artwork using natural resources they had collected during the day.

After such a busy morning, the children enjoyed a forest themed lunch of campfire sausages, wood-burned jacket potatoes and hedgehog cakes. Maria, our cook, was on hand throughout the day serving hot chocolate too. All of the children and staff had a fabulous day.

Miss Gilbert and Miss Dunn launched Westminster’s Forest School earlier this year. Forest School sessions provide children with opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. The sessions offer a structured, healthy and ecological approach to outdoor learning, which is child-led. All our children have thoroughly enjoyed their Forest School sessions, taking part in a range of activities from den building, campfires, scavenger hunts, and environmental art to observing and identifying plants and wildlife.

The children all said what a wonderful day they had and are looking forward to watching the trees grow.

For more photographs of the day please go to our Gallery

I am Firestarter...

On Friday 12th July 2019 Miss Dunn invited Mrs Davies, Ms Finch, Miss Gilbert, Miss Hall and Mrs Seaward to fine tune their fire lighting skills and have an introduction to Forest School learning. This work was able to take place because Miss Hughes had put in a successful bid for funding to support the good learning that goes on during our residential trips. This meant that our Forest School Team got to sit around a warming fire before exploring the trees and hedgerows. The next step is to organise our new resources and put plans in place for our EYFS and KS1 pupils for next academic year. Exciting times ahead...