“Amazing” This was quite often the response of many pupils across Bradford who have been doing the Forest Schools scheme! 

As we all know, maintaining a good level of concentration within the classroom is extremely difficult. Children like yourself can often drift off in the warm claustrophobic prison of the classroom walls. Trust me, I know the feeling! The Forest School project is a brand new “innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning.”

 


Are you motivated by the idea of working outdoors? Most children across the country are which has sparked a revolution of forest schools throughout the nation with over 200 schools currently operating within the UK. That’s a lot of schools and a whole lot more children.

Why would you want to be stuck inside when you can learn outside? Forest schools combines lesson time with play time in a safe learning environment.

 

The project aims to develop key skills such as self awareness, social communication skills and confidence.

 

The Forest Schools scheme essentially means taking you out of lessons, once a week for about 10 weeks. It aims to teach you how to play properly, in a world ruled by video games. So stop playing Xbox and go climb some trees!!

 

There are at least 15 schools in Bradford alone that run this scheme, one example of these being Russell Hall Primary school in Queensbury.

 


We interviewed four children, Adam, Lois, Emily and Mack, who were all extremely keen about the idea of the forest schools and thought more schools should get involved. They told us of their interesting adventures with mysterious hobbits and the fun variety of team games they played. One boy, Mack, told us of how he came back soaking, all the same having a wonderful time.


The head teacher at the school, Mrs Nutall, thought the project was really educational and provided the children with a huge range of life lessons, such as leadership, teamwork and confidence.

 

Russell Hall run the project on a weekly basis, every Thursday afternoon and has received the full support of parents, who kindly wash your muddy clothes! The school will continue to run the project until the end of March and then with any luck will think about continuing the project on a permanent basis!

 

This is an extremely good way of stimulating your imagination and creativity whilst being fun at the same time. Would you like to do all the cool stuff, Adam, Lois, Emily and Mack did? Well, tell your parents and teachers to find out more about the Forest Schools project in your area!



By Jonathan Wild