insideKENT Magazine Issue 96 - March 2020 | Page 143
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
FOREST SCHOOL AT BISHOP CHALLONER
We are now moving into our third year of
offering Forest School at Bishop Challoner
and it continues to provide the most
wonderful opportunities for our younger
children to explore ‘The Great Outdoors.’
away in the winter months and then return
resplendent in the spring and summer,
giving a real sense of the seasons.
Forest School is an innovative, educational
approach to outdoor play and learning
where children learn about the natural
environment in a safe woodland setting
in all weather and seasons. They are
encouraged to handle risks and use their
own initiative to solve problems and co-
operate with others. They learn to be robust
and resilient explorers, in control of their
own learning. Our Forest School promotes environmental
awareness and the need for sustainability.
Children are taught about respect and
responsibility for the world around them
and encouraged to be aware of conservation
issues. Under the careful guidance of our
specialist teachers, children learn to use
tools while ensuring the safety of both
themselves and others. They learn about
teamwork and resilience and are given the
opportunity to direct their own learning
and take risks.
Our Forest School site is located in an old
orchard, once belonging to Shortlands
House. Fruit trees including cherry, apple
and plum are present on the site and
provide interesting fauna through the
changing seasons. At Bishop Challoner we firmly believe that
the skills and experiences offered by Forest
School are highly transferable to the
classroom and equip our pupils with
confidence, self-awareness and a sense of
independence from the youngest age.
Visitors to the site include a rather timid
badger, a friendly mouse, a robin and some
rather noisy, but colourful parakeets. We
have even been visited by a fox. You are very welcome to come and
see Forest School at Bishop Challoner
for yourself.
www.bishopchallonerschool.com
The children are able to observe the site
over an academic year, watching life fade
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