The aim of 'Woodland Wanderers' is to encourage and inspire pupils in the outdoor environment, promoting an appreciation of and respect for the natural environment.
'Woody Wanderers' has become an embedded aspect of our curriculum from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6. All children in Nursery to Year 1 spend half a day a week, in our woods, engaging in a wide range of exciting, stimulating and challenging activities. Year 2 to Year 6 sessions are led by our Level 3 qualified Forest School practitioner Mrs Gilmore, during which the children develop and build on their personal, social and technical skills over a series of afternoon sessions.
Forest Schools refers to a style of teaching that has its roots in Scandinavia, where children spend time outside in a woodland environment engrossed in hands on, child led learning experiences. Our fantastic outdoor environment facilitates a wide range of learning opportunities to appeal to many different learning styles, whilst building pupil confidence and self-esteem.
During a series of forest schools sessions, the range of activities can vary with the interests of participants but a typical set of sessions could include:
Den building
Making and using rope swings
Making and using bow and arrows
Campfire cooking
Fire building and lighting
Tree climbing
Using a range of outdoor tools
Parent help is always welcome and appreciated, if you are able to join us for any Woody Wanderer sessions please speak to Mrs Wright for more information.
See TPS Woody Wanderers Twitter page for regular updates.
"THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER ONLY UNSUITABLE CLOTHING" Alfred Wainwright
Essential for every session:
• A waterproof coat with a hood.
• Waterproof trousers
• Wellies.
Extras for cold weather (October - April)
• Gloves, Hat.
• Thick socks to wear inside wellies.
• If your waterproof coat is thin, an old fleece or sweater to wear underneath.
REMEMBER - All the clothing and footwear will get very wet and muddy.
Waterproofs can be bought from camping and outdoor shops. Bargain ones are fine! Sometimes supermarkets sell them; especially Aldi and Lidl at certain times of year. Supermarket wellies, hats and gloves are fine.
Please mark everything with the owner's name. All thirty pairs of waterproof trousers look the same.
Pupils very much enjoy coming to school... They feel safe in the stimulating environment into which they are warmly welcomed... One pupil stated that, ‘You can be yourself here.’