Bushcraft
Forest School
Forest School is a way of learning and building confidence in a natural environment. It gives children the opportunity to explore the world around them and learn to respect and love nature. Forest School supports children’s right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities.
At Forest School children access the vibrant reality of the natural world,giving them opportunities for problem solving, critical thinking, social interaction and chances to build resilience in a challenging world. Forest School sessions help children build positive values and attitudes about themselves, about learning, about managing risks and about the environment.
This is done through a supportive curriculum which has the child’s interests at heart. The children, within a regular routine, initiate their own learning and manage their time. Activities are planned that reflect the children’s interests and build on experiences from previous sessions. Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of the child, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
It is important that children go to Forest School on a regular basis in their time at school. This enables children to build up their knowledge of the site and experience the changing landscape and seasons. They soon learn the best tree to climb, a good spot to go on a mini beast hunt, the log to look under to find a toad, the boggy part of the site that freezes over, where the fungi grow - the list is endless. Children build a bank of positive first-hand experiences which enhance their understanding and add value to their classroom learning. It also supports their physical and mental well-being and has a positive impact on their personal and social skills.
Bushcraft
Back to Basics run weekly Bushcraft sessions for our children in our wonderful woodland. If you go down to the woods today, you’ll certainly be in for a big surprise at all the fabulous work the children have put in to creating their super shelters and more!
Back to Basics is renowned for its commitment to delivering high-quality Bushcraft and outdoor education experiences, underpinned by a philosophy of safety, fun and practical learning. Led by Jordan Jonathan Earle, affectionately known as "The Bushcraft Man," the organisation offers a diverse range of activities aimed at building skills, confidence and well-being in children.
The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of outdoor skills, including fire lighting, foraging, axe throwing, air rifle shooting, shelter building, water skills, knot tying, tree identification, and first aid. Through these activities, children not only learn practical skills but also develop resilience, social skills, emotional stability and fine motor skills.
Recognising the immense benefits of outdoor education, particularly in the context of Bushcraft, Back to Basics places a strong emphasis on evidence-based learning outcomes. In response to requests from school leaders for more detailed evidence of activities and outcomes, the organisation has collaborated with educators to develop courses aligned with the National Curriculum.
Each child receives a booklet that is stamped to document their progress in mastering specific skills or areas of the National Curriculum. By actively involving children in tracking their own learning outcomes, Back to Basics aims to enhance engagement and foster a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
Overall, Back to Basics offers a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to outdoor education, empowering participants to develop essential life skills while fostering a love for nature and the outdoors.
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