Forest School

At Stanley, we are fortunate to have access to a beautiful woodland area and allotment in Thingwall. Each week, several of our groups and classes visit this space, supported by our trained Forest School practitioners. These sessions give our pupils rich learning experiences in a calm, natural environment that supports their sensory, social and emotional needs.

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Our Forest School work closely aligns with the THRIVE Approach. The THRIVE Approach is a structured, relationship-based way of supporting children to develop the emotional and social skills they need to learn, feel safe and build positive relationships. It focusses on understanding each child’s developmental needs, helping them feel regulated, connected and supported. Forest School provides an ideal environment for this, offering space, nature, creativity and trusted adults who can tune in to each child’s needs.

Our woodland site includes:

a tyre swing
a mud kitchen with a range of accessories
a climbing area made from crates and tyres
a musical exploration area
a quiet relaxation space under the colourful “rainbow tree”
a digging zone
a sheltered area

We also provide a variety of loose parts and natural materials, so pupils can explore, problem-solve and create in their own way.

Forest School continues throughout the year, in all seasons and weather conditions (except during extreme weather). This helps our children develop a deeper understanding of the natural world, noticing how the environment looks, feels and changes over time. It also builds their resilience as they experience different types of weather and learn about the clothing and equipment needed to stay comfortable and safe in varying seasons and temperatures.

Our approach is very child-centred. Practitioners observe the children closely, respond to their interests and provide resources or support when needed. For example, if pupils are excited about finding insects, staff will help them explore safely, showing them where to look, how to handle creatures gently, how to collect and view them, and how to return them carefully to their home. Books and identification guides may also be provided so the children can learn more about the bugs they discover and begin to name them with confidence.

Forest School gives our pupils time and space to be themselves. There is no pressure to achieve a set task; instead, children are encouraged to follow their interests within simple, clear safety boundaries. Staff do provide adult-led activities for the children if they want to participate, but there is no pressure to do so.

As children grow in confidence and develop their skills, they may be given opportunities to explore activities such as whittling, firelighting and cooking over a campfire, always supervised closely by trained staff and adapted to meet individual needs.

It is a joy to see the children flourish as the weeks go by. Their confidence grows, relationships strengthen, communication blossoms and their physical and play skills develop in meaningful ways. Watching these small but powerful steps forward is one of the most rewarding parts of Forest School.