Forest Schooling: enabling holistic development in children

We’ve recently welcomed Weald at Heart, a Forest School located in the 46 acres of woodland here at Flimwell Park. From Monday to Friday, founders Lindsey Challen and Becca Durrant, enjoy children and their families and guardians, visiting the woodland to experience a different kind of education. 

Holistic learning is an approach to learning that emphasises the importance of the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of children, particularly in early childhood. Forest School gives children the opportunities to build confidence and self-esteem through exploration, problem solving and being encouraged to learn how to assess and take appropriate risks depending on their environment.

 So what really is ForestSchooling and how can your child benefit from it? We interview the experts at Weald at Heart about their new (ad)venture in the woods. 

 What is a forest school?

The official definition is that a forest school is a child-centred inspirational learning process that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It’s not something you do all in one week, but it is a developing programme that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. The aim is to develop confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

Choice and freedom are an important part of our ethos, and we are here as qualified Forest School Practitioners to support the children's journeys so that parents, grandparents, or carers can watch them flourish in the forest.   

 We want the time that children spend with us to be special for them but also their parents or guardians who can interact with nature as well and take time out of busy schedules to just enjoy being in the moment.

What attracted you to Flimwell Park as the place to run your business from?

 One of the key aims of Flimwell Park is about connecting people to the woodland surroundings and creating a community who work, live, or visit the site. Connecting children to nature is exactly what we do during our sessions, so basing our Forest School here felt like a meeting of minds in many ways. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that being outside can be so important for both your physical and mental well-being. Our aim is to facilitate that during fun sessions which allow children to explore at their own pace.  Inquisitiveness and imagination are all they need to bring.

So, what does a session look like?

We provide relaxed learner-led sessions to give children space and time to connect with nature.  Children learn, explore, play, and grow in a nurturing environment. They may choose to join in games and songs and storytelling, hunt for mini beasts, cook up some dinner in the mud kitchen, make a nature craft creation, climb, run, swing in a hammock, or learn to use a tool. 

 We have created a site in the forest which contains lots of different interactive areas as well as our fire circle where we come together to interact and sing songs. Each week we provide activities but it’s up to the children what they want to do and when.

 What are the benefits of the outdoors/nature for children at such a young age?

 The ethos of Weald At Heart Forest School is all about creating an environment where children can interact with nature in their own way and at their own pace. Over the course of a six-week programme you can see huge changes in children’s confidence and indeed knowledge of nature. While they play in the forest, they will be developing gross and fine motor skills, social and literacy skills and more, whilst having a lot of fun. Children also learn to be more resilient as part of the process and it’s a great way to meet friends or for parents, grandparents, or guardians to meet new people in a safe outside space which is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

For more information about Weald at Heart and their classes, please visit www.wealdatheart.co.uk