Forest School
At St Alban’s, Forest School is a new and exciting addition to our enrichment curriculum, offering children valuable opportunities to explore, discover, and learn in a natural outdoor setting.
Every pupil at St Alban’s will benefit from a full term of Forest School each year. Sessions take place in our newly developed woodland area at the back of the school site – an untouched, unspoiled space rich in biodiversity, including buddleia and self-seeding oak trees. This area has been enhanced with willow tunnels, a mud kitchen, a bug hotel, and other natural features, funded through a grant from the LGA Foundation, creating an inspiring environment for outdoor learning.
Forest School encourages pupils to engage with nature, develop their confidence, and build resilience. Activities support curiosity and creativity, and allow children to take ownership of their learning in a calm, open space away from the classroom. Early sessions have already seen pupils identifying different tree species, building dens, and exploring the woodland with enthusiasm.
The benefits of Forest School are clear. Children have spoken about how being outdoors makes them feel “calm” and “happy”, and the space provides opportunities to work together, solve problems, and enjoy the wellbeing boost that comes from being surrounded by nature, something especially valuable within our urban area.
We are proud to offer Forest School as a valuable part of life at St Alban’s, enriching our pupils’ learning and wellbeing through meaningful outdoor experiences.
