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Forest School
September 2023
Welcome to our new term. The summer holidays feel like so long ago now and autumn is well and truly here. Thoughts turn to cosy fires, hot chocolate, walking through the crunchy leaves, colours of gold and red, collecting conkers, and darker evenings.
Soon, we will be welcoming the annual Michaelmas fair to Abingdon, and Michaelmas daisies will be in bloom. Michaelmas (September 29th) is a time when Christians, Jews and Muslims think of St Michael and his brave
ry and power in defeating the dragon (representing all the bad things in the world). St George is thought to have been inspired by St Michael's bravery and we will be thinking about how we can be brave each day. Forest School gives us the opportunities to take appropriate risks and assess our safety as we climb trees, light fires and use sharp tools - these activities help develop muscles, risk awareness, balance, and collaboration (amongst other benefits).
We are always grateful for help from volunteers. Please contact the office if you would like to know more about this - we would be very happy to have a chat.
This is a good opportunity to remind you to make sure that your children come to school with the appropriate clothing for Forest School. Our weather can change quickly during the day - please ensure they have waterproof clothing, spare socks and appropriate footwear (wellies, old trainers etc). School shoes do not always provide the adequate support needed for the activities.
Please contact me, via school office, if you have any queries at all.
Mrs Laws
September has been a busy month in Forest School
Forest School Intent
At Drayton we want to provide every child with the opportunity to develop a real passion for the great outdoors, through play and hands on learning in our beautiful wooded environment. The activities undertaken in Forest School will also help support the healthy lifestyle ethos we have at Drayton school.
We want children to celebrate their local, natural environment and gain a closer connection with nature, whilst acquiring knowledge about their local habitat and how to look after and nurture it.
Our intention is to provide children with opportunities for collaboration and teamwork, problem-solving and appropriate risk-taking, whilst increasing resilience. Children will be able to embrace the physical and personal challenges that working outside can present.
It is our intention to give our pupils the time and space to develop holistically as individuals, whilst still learning to be part of our school community.
Forest School offers opportunities to complement the learning that takes place in the classroom. Children can practically use their language and literacy skills alongside maths, science, PE and the arts.
Our Forest School pledge
We promise to:
Be kind to ourselves
- Be kind to each other
Be kind to nature