Stephen Simpson on the benefits of forest schools, especially for children who struggle in a mainstream classroom setting. Plus a letter from Brian Crane
Emma Brockes sees forest school as a cynical marketing tool used by manipulative state schools to attract wealthy parents (I’m all for the concept of ‘forest school’ – just not the kind I pulled my kids out of, 16 August). In my 25 years’ experience of working in education, state schools struggle to afford pencils, let alone think about marketing.
The families we work with in my forest school – in a state school – cover the socioeconomic spectrum. The common thread is that their children all struggle participating in a mainstream classroom setting. Many have suffered significant childhood trauma, or may not be neurotypical. They are simply not supported by an ever-narrowing education system that has been squeezed to breaking point. We follow the guiding principles of forest school to provide nurture at the child’s pace. Gradually, over time, their emotional resilience and self-belief starts to emerge.
Continue reading… Stephen Simpson on the benefits of forest schools, especially for children who struggle in a mainstream classroom setting. Plus a letter from Brian CraneEmma Brockes sees forest school as a cynical marketing tool used by manipulative state schools to attract wealthy parents (I’m all for the concept of ‘forest school’ – just not the kind I pulled my kids out of, 16 August). In my 25 years’ experience of working in education, state schools struggle to afford pencils, let alone think about marketing.The families we work with in my forest school – in a state school – cover the socioeconomic spectrum. The common thread is that their children all struggle participating in a mainstream classroom setting. Many have suffered significant childhood trauma, or may not be neurotypical. They are simply not supported by an ever-narrowing education system that has been squeezed to breaking point. We follow the guiding principles of forest school to provide nurture at the child’s pace. Gradually, over time, their emotional resilience and self-belief starts to emerge. Continue reading… Schools, Health & wellbeing, Education, Life and style, Trees and forests, Environment
