There are more and more Forest Schools popping up every year, but how can you tell what a good session looks like?
Here are a few things that I think you should expect from a well-run session:
1. Child-centered learning
Too much of learning currently takes responsibility away from the child and makes them unable to learn unless forced. However, children are born with curiosity and love of learning, which makes them great learners. Good sessions tap into this by giving children the space and time to learn and follow their interests. So sessions should not be based entirely on one planned activity after another.
2. Opportunities to take risk
Risk is missing almost entirely from children’s lives, this means that children don’t learn to manage risk and work out what is too dangerous or risky to do. Then when children are old enough to make decisions for themselves they either take massively dangerous risks (think fast cars etc.) or avoid risks entirely. Good leaders help children to develop a healthy attitude to risk and risk management, which helps them become balanced adults.
3. Regular sessions
It takes time for children to get used to sessions and begin to lead their own learning. By making sure the sessions are regular, children begin to relax and gain confidence. It is also important for the sessions to be run by the same leaders and involve the same children. This builds trust and good relationships between everyone and helps develop social skills.
4. High adult to child ratios
Good sessions are not like the typical school classroom with 30+ children and 2 adults (if you’re lucky) and no time for individuals. Instead, the sessions should be about helping each child learn at their own pace. So there should be enough experienced and qualified adults to make 1 to 1 learning and guidance possible.
5. Long sessions
Every time children start a new activity or session it takes a bit of time for them to get engaged and get in the flow. However, the best learning happens when children are fully engrossed in what they are doing. Sessions that are too short, cut this learning off too soon and create shallow learning. A good session is not run by the clock, but rather by children’s interest.
If your Forest School session doesn’t have many of these, it isn’t always the leader’s fault. Many funders simply do not understand why it is so important to have these 5 principles. Lack of funding, lack of time and outside pressures really do make life difficult for many leaders. However, the more people that realise the importance of a good session, the more freedom leaders will have.