Forest Schools
Worcestershire Forest School Initiative is based at Bishops Wood
Centre, near Stourport-on-Severn. The Centre is supported by the
National Grid.
Forest School was introduced in 2000 as one of the first Forest
Schools in Britain. Since then, a number of settings across the
county have established their own Forest School sites – with
support from Forest School staff at Bishops Wood. The Forest School
site at Bishops Wood itself has
continued to flourish.
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About Forest Schools
Forest School is a unique way of building independence,
confidence and self esteem in children and young people as they
explore and experience the natural world for themselves.
The creative and investigative Forest School experience is
based on a set of five guiding principles.
Experiences are fun and child-led. The children splash in
puddles, roll in leaves, and (because of the high adult:child
ratios) can safely experience activities like climbing tress and
lighting fires.
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Support
Worcestershire Forest School Initiative at Bishops Wood offers a
range of support to all those interested in Forest School – whether
using Bishops Wood or a site of their own, thinking about
developing a site, or simply finding out more about Forest
School.
The Equipment Lending Service is a much-appreciated aspect of
our support, as is the availability of advice and help to settings
and individuals. Our shop and recipe collection have proved very
popular.
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Forest School Reasearch
Particularly striking elements of research findings are the
effects on children's personal, social and emotional development,
and on their language and communication skills.
Also significant is that these benefits are considerable for
boys as well as girls, and for children of all abilities, including
those with a range of learning and emotional
difficulties.
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Training to be a Forest School
It is strongly recommended that any setting developing its own
Forest School should have a trained Forest School Leader.Forest
School Leaders' Training Award in Worcestershire is offered by
Bishops Wood
Centre.
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Forest Schools Staff and Contact Information
Alison Byng:
Forest School Coordinator for Worcestershire based at Bishops
Wood Centre, just outside Stourport on Severn. Forest School
is an integral part of the education development plan in
Worcestershire. Worcestershire's aim is for all foundation
stage children in the County to have access to Forest School.
Lisa Price and Jason Hardwick:
Our Forest School Leaders. Mainly work with groups of children
and young people at Bishops Wood. Can also work alongside
practitioners in settings or run outreach for settings looking to
embark upon Forest School who are not local to the site at Bishops
Wood.
Contact Information:
Bishops Wood Centre
Crossway Green
Stourport on Severn
Worcestershire
DY13 9SE
Tel: 01299 250513 ext 217
Fax: 01299 250131
Email: forestschool@worcestershire.gov.uk
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This page was last reviewed 1 May 2012 at 15:31.
The page is next due for review 28 October 2013.