Forest School is a brand of the Early Years Sector and is
trademarked as such, however it is often used as a generic term for outdoor
learning. Before we can look at the current concepts used within Forest School
environments we must first understand where the idea of outdoor learning
originated.
On an international scale, the idea of
outdoor leaning was first penned in the 19th century by several European
theorists.
Froebel, the German creator of the first kindergarten believed
that through outdoor play, children had the opportunity to extend their
learning, as well as being aware of the world around them. As well as this, he
also argued that for a child to learn, they need a strong community built on a
relationship of learning together and respect (Tovey,
2013, p. 3). This idea of community is seen throughout Forest School
teaching, where a child is respected as an individual who can take risks such
as using building tools, however, in current practice it is often a teacher-led
area which doesn’t suggest adults learning from children.
Steiner theorised several ideas that still form the foundation of
any Forest School now. Bruce and Halder detail Steiner’s idea that children are
physical based learners who are ‘will dominant’ (Bruce,
2015, p. 29). Steiner also emphasised the need for a suitable
environment where children can actively learn from their surroundings.
The first Forest Schools were developed in countries such as
Denmark and Sweden in the 1980s. Juliet Robertson suggests in her report that
this stemmed from the idea of ‘skogsmulle’, a character who lived in the
woods and taught children to ‘love and care for nature’ (Robertson,
2008) .
Many educators trained in order to provide skogsmulle activities, such as
building fires however it wasn’t until the mid-eighties that these ideas and
values were made into a full nursery setting.
Since the development of the first
Forest Schools, it has continued to grow across Western Europe and now has a
large following of educators and children alike who work together in order to
make the outdoors a learning space where children can develop and learn as well
as caring for the environment around them. In today’s society, where climate
change and deforestation are serious concerns for the future, it is hoped that
the more children learn from a natural environment, the more they will want to
protect it.
Original post by Charlotte
Are Forest Schools used in Countries such as America and Australia too? Just curious what there approach to outdoor learning is?
ReplyDeleteYes, it was originally developed from Denmark and is now being used in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Spain and chille to name a few. It really has been recognized as a great opportunity for children to learn.
DeleteFrankie and the team.
The approach is the same as the ethos through forest school is the key to what forest schools is about, there will be a blog post about this very soon. Hope this is helpful.
DeleteIs the Forest School trade marked in the Early Years sector? I work in a nursery but also have a daughter in year 4 who has Forest school learning. I thought that it was a trademark of schools more so than Early Years?
ReplyDeleteI think what the poster meant was that out door learning was originally researched wishing the early years sector which is where the forest schools concept began. Forest schools can only be taught bully trained forest schools professionals, although in early years we use the same concept and learning style but call it out door learning. Most forest schools teachers are within schools so you are right.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the confusion I hope this helps.
Frankie and the team
Did they begin in the early years then it from the creature in the woods? And totally agree that teaching of it is more school based.
ReplyDeleteForest School is designed for anyone from 3 years old upward, There are many Forest Schools for children in early years settings and many are now adapting it for babies and toddlers as well. I know at least two small groups of day nurseries where practitioners are FS trained and FS sessions are offered as part of their provision for children on a regular basis. Forest School sessions and programmes can be linked to learning within any curriculum - that is one of the strengths of the movement and is central to its philosophy. The early years' students and staff from Bridgewater College, who brought the concept to the UK, would have experienced kindergarten children from three to six learning and developing in the forests.
ReplyDelete