A school which offers outdoor, hands-on learning in its own woodland space has been recognised for the high quality of its Forest School teaching.
Derby Grammar School has now become a Recognised Forest School Provider from the Forest School Association.
Forest School is a specialised learning approach which bases learning in woodlands or a natural environment with trees. It helps to develop self-confidence through hands-on learning experiences and originates from outdoor learning in Scandinavia.
Derby Grammar School offers Forest School through-out the whole of the primary school from Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6 with Early Years pupils and those in Key Stage 1 enjoying Forest School all year round. It is run by Rebecca Hill, a fully-qualified Forest School Level 3 practitioner with an Outdoor and Paediatric First Aid qualification who ensures strong staffing levels mean pupils can take risks and reap the rewards.
Elizabeth Scholter, Primary Headteacher at Derby Grammar School said: “We are very fortunate to have beautiful and extensive grounds, and our pupils love their weekly sessions outside in the woodland area beneath the trees. Our Primary School staff are fully engaged and committed to the holistic approach of Forest School, and many parents choose us as their child’s school because of this offering. We know that having this recognition will give us something that other schools in the area do not.”
In October 2017, the Forest School Association (FSA) – the UK’s professional body and voice for all things Forest School – launched a new scheme to recognise Forest School Providers who demonstrated that they are following good Forest School practice – the FSA Recognised Forest School Provider scheme. Successful applicants such as Derby Grammar School are added to a publicly accessible map on the FSA’s website.
There are only a handful of independent schools with this accreditation in the country and people are able to visit Derby Grammar School’s and find out more about what the school offers duringits open day on October 1.
Gareth Wyn Davies, Chief Executive Officer of the Forest School Association, said: “Good Forest School practice is being followed by dedicated Forest School professionals all over the UK. We believe that the FSA Recognised Forest School Provider scheme will provide these schools and organisations with the means of demonstrating the quality of their work to parents and those who fund their work. It will also help promote their work as they will be found on the FSA publicly searchable map. Forest School is a distinct learning approach based on a set of 6 principles. Our scheme helps people identify those providers who are following good Forest School practice and distinguishes them from other outdoor education that is not Forest School.
“We therefore congratulate Derby Grammar School on their success at becoming an approved ‘good practice’ provider.”
