Forest School Experience
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
25/09/2008
Bayonne Nursery School has won a prestigious award for a groundbreaking scheme that enables pupils to get in touch with nature and enjoy the great outdoors.
The ‘forest school experience’ sees the three and four year-olds pay regular visits to Wimbledon Common where they are encouraged to develop their personal, social and emotional skills through activities such as bridge building and map making.
And at a recent ceremony, the scheme achieved the ‘creative setting of the year award’ from the Early Years Educator magazine.
The exciting scheme allows children who attend the nursery, on Bramber Road, Hammersmith, to feel at ease in the countryside by giving them the freedom to explore a woodland setting.
Teacher Jo Skone set up the forest school. She said: “The whole experience is a learning opportunity – getting dressed provides time for the children to discuss appropriate clothing and practice self help skills. The 20 minutes mini-bus journey is an ideal time to cover geography and map reading skills in a real and meaningful context.
“When we arrive at the site the children are involved in all aspects of setting up camp from helping erect the gazebo to negotiating where the taped boundary line should be. “
The whole experience is child led with teachers supporting the children’s play in a non-intrusive environment. The activities also enable the children to be introduced to environmental issues in an age-appropriate way through practical talks and activities.
Jo Skone added: “The children quickly become confident in the often unfamiliar environment. We have seen an increase in their abilities to work together and their observational and physical skills have improved. The feedback from the parent’s has been that the children sleep and eat better and after family day at the end of each groups forest school experience more families are using the outdoor spaces of London in their leisure time.”
Cllr Antony Lillis, cabinet member for community and children’s services, said: “This is an excellent scheme and congratulations to Bayonne Nursery School for winning this award. There is plenty to learn from the great outdoors and it is good that children feel at ease in rural environments from an early age.”
