Forest School – the key to moving towards a sustainable post-Covid future

We are emerging blinking into a post-Covid world full of shocked and traumatised children and adults facing uncertain futures.  As we do so, the realisation that we are teetering on the brink of climate chaos is dawning on us all. 

While each of us needs remedial care and attention, our children also need to be gently prepared for their futures, which involves becoming more aware of the rest of the natural world and its needs. All ecotherapies and outdoor immersions tick both boxes, and Forest School combines both with a wonderful learning experience for adults and children alike.

Forest School has become popular with many early years practitioners.  Research evidence from 2003 to 2021 shows that it boosts wellbeing (and not just in the children), that it builds confidence, stamina and curiosity, and that it connects children and adults with the wilder world. As an academic and Forest School leader, I have written and spoken many words on the proven benefits to all participants. I am therefore delighted that Forest School has become so popular, especially with early years settings as I started my career as a nursery school teacher.

But there are practicalities – for instance, the training costs are in line with other professional courses (not cheap), and what do you do if every time you train a leader s/he gets head-hunted by another nursery? Then there is the question of the centrality of trees. Clearly, you need to be able to reach a wooded space quickly and cheaply, not always straightforward in a city. Even if you have access to such a wooded space, how do you ensure that it is safe enough to use? Will the landowner permit you to light a fire or dig a toilet? Are you confident about doing either? And how do you convince other adults that this unstructured and muddy free-for-all is the best way to prepare children for formal learning? Actually, this last ‘problem’ is the easiest to solve once you get started.  The evidence will leap out at you from the children’s attainments and attitudes.

A new book with three objectives...
The national body for Forest School, the Forest School Association, have commissioned a book to help. This book has three main objectives. First, it will support readers who are curious about Forest School and signpost them to reach training close at hand. That is probably the easy bit! 

Then the book will help settings to create a successful Forest School project and to avoid common pitfalls. It will give guidance about the business aspects of Forest School, which are not covered on training courses. Lastly, it will help people who may have already started Forest School sessions to overcome any ongoing barriers to their delivery and to help them advocate for Forest School. 

Helpfully, the book is being written by Forest School leaders who are running their own businesses and who have come through the pain barrier successfully. It will look at how to access the Forest School profession and how to provide quality Forest School, either in-house or by engaging freelance help. It will also enable readers to decide whether they as an individual want to engage with Forest School, and how to make it feasible to do so. 

There is already a free booklet about how to set up a Forest School and the new book will be available this autumn via the Forest School Association website, or at its conference: ‘Climate of Hope – Sustainable Forest School’, 1– 3 October 2021, Oxford.​