Parents & Children

Forest School

Where little adventures lead to big discoveries!

Muddy boots. Rosy cheeks. Curious minds. Happy hearts.

At Brinscall St John’s CE/Methodist Primary School, we believe that some of the most magical learning experiences happen beyond the four walls of a classroom.

Sometimes, the best classroom has no walls at all! Whether it is building a den, discovering a tiny creature beneath a log, balancing on a fallen tree or simply stopping to listen to the sounds of nature, our children are encouraged to explore, investigate, imagine and discover.

Forest School is a special part of our wider curriculum offer, providing opportunities for children to develop confidence, independence, resilience and a lifelong love of the natural world.

And the best part?

Every single child, from Reception through to Year 6, has the opportunity to experience Forest School as part of their journey through Brinscall St John’s.

Because we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to get muddy, take on challenges, discover something wonderful and let their light shine!

Bringing learning to life in the great outdoors

We are incredibly proud to work in partnership with WildWood Days, a local outdoor learning provider that shares our passion for giving children meaningful, memorable experiences in nature.

Through this partnership, every class at Brinscall St John’s takes part in planned Forest School sessions, giving children opportunities to step away from their usual classroom environment and experience the freedom, excitement and wonder of learning outdoors.

WildWood Days brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and specialist knowledge to these sessions, helping our children develop new skills, overcome challenges and explore the natural environment.

Their approach places children at the heart of their learning, encouraging curiosity, creativity, imagination and supported risk-taking.

From our youngest explorers in Reception to our oldest adventurers in Year 6, the experiences develop alongside our children, providing age-appropriate opportunities to grow in confidence and independence.

We are delighted to have WildWood Days as part of our Brinscall St John’s family!

Find out more about our partners: Wildwood Days Forest School

Learning, growing and discovering together

Forest School is about so much more than spending time outdoors.

It is about giving children the freedom to explore, the confidence to try something new and the opportunity to discover just how capable they really are.

Through their Forest School experiences, our children have opportunities to:

🌱 Grow in confidence – discovering that they can achieve things they might once have thought impossible.

🌳 Develop resilience – learning to persevere, solve problems and try again when something doesn't quite work.

🤝 Build friendships – working together, communicating, sharing ideas and supporting one another.

🪵 Become independent – making decisions, taking responsibility and developing practical skills.

🦋 Connect with nature – developing curiosity, respect and a sense of responsibility for the world around them.

✨ Let their creativity shine – imagining, designing, building, investigating and discovering through hands-on experiences.

Forest School gives children opportunities to experience success in different ways. A child who finds something challenging in the classroom may discover a completely new confidence when learning outdoors.

Every child has something special to offer, and Forest School provides another wonderful place for that light to shine.

Shine with the Light of Jesus

Our Forest School experiences are another opportunity for our Christian vision and school values to come alive.

Kindness – caring for one another and the living things around us.

Respect – appreciating nature, following safety expectations and looking after our environment.

Resilience – persevering when challenges arise and learning from mistakes.

Courage – stepping outside our comfort zones and trying something new.

Friendship – cooperating, encouraging others and celebrating achievements together.

Forgiveness – learning to resolve disagreements, reflect and move forward positively.

Forest School also provides wonderful opportunities for children to pause, reflect and appreciate the beauty of God's creation.

Whether watching the changing seasons, listening to birdsong or noticing the smallest details in nature, our children are encouraged to develop a sense of wonder, gratitude and responsibility for the world we share.

We want our children to understand that they can make a positive difference, both to the people around them and to the environment.

Our next adventure is only just beginning!

At Brinscall St John’s, we are always looking for ways to make our children's educational experiences even richer.

While our partnership with WildWood Days provides wonderful opportunities for outdoor learning, we have an exciting long-term ambition to develop our very own dedicated Forest School area within our school grounds with huge help from Wildwood Days.

Our vision is to create a natural, inspiring space where children can explore, investigate, create and connect with the outdoors as part of everyday school life.

We would love to develop an environment that grows and evolves alongside our children, potentially incorporating features such as:

🌳 Natural exploration and woodland areas

🪵 Spaces for den building and imaginative play

🌼 Wildflower planting and wildlife habitats

🐞 Opportunities to encourage biodiversity

🌱 Gardening, growing and environmental projects

🪑 Outdoor gathering, storytelling and reflection spaces

🔍 Areas for practical investigations and curriculum learning

This is a long-term aspiration, and we are excited about the possibilities ahead.

Our ambition is not simply to create an outdoor learning area. It is to develop a space that belongs to our children, where their ideas, curiosity and creativity help shape its future.

A place to explore. A place to discover. A place to belong. A place to shine.

We look forward to sharing our journey with our families and wider school community as our plans develop.