School with a difference

Here, Simon Shakespeare the Forest School Coordinator explains why the forest is such a great place to learn.

Forest School is a programme developed from Danish ideas, working with children and young people in the outdoors; helping to build their self-esteem, social skills and independence.

Making a den has never been such fun

We teach them very basic woodland skills - and the reason we do that is to try and boost their self confidence and raise their self esteem - and working in the woods is a good way of doing that.

The young people learn to use natural materials and develop practical and intellectual skills, which can all be linked with the National Curriculum.

The Forest School model is suited to children of all ages and has been found to be particularly suited to children who struggle to achieve in the more formal classroom setting.

We aim to set students up to succeed, rather than to fail. We do this by breaking down set tasks into small, achievable chunks that are matched to a student's capability.

In order to do this we request a little information about each student, from the parents or teacher, prior to the start of the Programme.

Bacon and eggs - forest style

This is then used in conjunction with staff observation and written and verbal feedback from the students, to build a picture of the students' strengths and preferences.

This then tells us the way that staff work with individual students and helps the students to recognise their achievements.

Students get involved in all sorts of activities - mallet-making, coppicing, small-bore timber, making temporary shelters, building campfires and cooking on campfires.

Forest Inspirations is a recognised education project of the UK Permaculture Association and has been generously supported by the following organisations:

Awards For All, Community is Key Fund (European Social Fund), Forest Education Initiative, Western Power Distribution, Local Devon Networks Fund, and The South West Foundation