When many people hear “Forest School,” they picture children building dens, toasting marshmallows, or whittling sticks. While these elements play a part, they are only the surface level of something much deeper. Forest School is not simply outdoor play or a series of nature-themed activities—it is a highly considered, professional practice grounded in child development theory, environmental education, and long-term, holistic learning.
At its heart, Forest School is a learner-centered process that promotes personal growth, social connection, and emotional resilience through regular engagement with nature. Its true strength lies not only in the setting or the activities, but in the expertise of the practitioners who deliver it.
🌱 More Than Just the Outdoors
Forest School supports the whole child—physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Practitioners don’t just supervise; they observe, assess, and adapt their approach to nurture the unique potential of every learner. According to the Forest School Association's principles, this approach helps individuals become “resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.”
Forest School is not a one-off forest visit. It is a long-term programme, delivered consistently by qualified Forest School leaders who are trained to Level 3 or above. These professionals create a safe and responsive environment where trust, routine, and progression can flourish. Their training allows them to design experiences that build on children’s interests and needs over time.
Learner-Led, Expertly Guided
Forest School may be child-led, but it is expertly facilitated. Sessions are adapted in the moment by experienced leaders who understand how to scaffold learning without taking over, offering space for discovery while ensuring safety and progression. This balance is only possible with deep knowledge of pedagogy and practice.
🌿 The Expertise Behind the Experience
Real Risk and Real Growth
Children in Forest School learn to assess and manage risks through real-world challenges—be it climbing trees or using tools. This isn’t done haphazardly; it’s underpinned by robust training in risk assessment and child safety. Forest School leaders are not simply comfortable in the outdoors—they are trained to manage complex dynamics and ensure emotional and physical safety.
Purposeful Play
Play is central to Forest School—but this isn’t just “free time.” Skilled leaders observe play to understand learning styles, social dynamics, and emotional needs. They then use this insight to support development subtly and effectively.
Building Strong Relationships
Forest School staff don’t just teach—they build trusted, lasting relationships with learners. These connections are at the core of emotional safety, allowing children to take risks, express themselves, and thrive. Highly trained practitioners understand the importance of attachment, communication styles, and relational pedagogy.
Deep Nature Connection
Over time, Forest School fosters not just knowledge of nature, but a profound connection to it. Practitioners are passionate about the environment and committed to instilling that care in future generations—not through lectures, but through modelling and immersive experiences rooted in ecological awareness.
🌲 Not Just Outdoor Learning—Professionally Delivered Learning
Forest School is often mistaken for simply taking the classroom outside. But it’s much more than that. It’s a distinct, evidence-based methodology, delivered by highly qualified, reflective practitioners who draw on training in child development, safeguarding, outdoor skills, and environmental education.
It’s not just a one-day experience. It’s a sustained, thoughtful programme that adapts over time. And while it can support academic learning, its primary focus is on developing confident, resilient, emotionally secure young people.
The difference lies in the approach—and in the people who lead it. Behind every mud-splattered smile and den-building adventure is a trained Forest School Leader who has planned, risk-assessed, reflected, and adapted to make it happen.
To learn more about the ethos, principles, and professional standards behind Forest School, visit the Forest School Association website https://forestschoolassociation.org/what-is-forest-school/