Acocks Green Primary Forest School

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the Forest School at Acocks Green Primary School. At first you as you cross the tarmac playground to the main building sandwiched between two main roads, you wonder where a Forest School site could be.

However, a short walk through a narrow gap open out to an outdoor classroom. Here there are tables, storage sheds and a wild boarder. The rain water is harvested from the shed roofs and for use in the mini raised gardens that each year group have.

Just past here are a couple of small wild areas and the nursery school site. This then opens out again onto a small playing field and beyond is the Forest School site.

It is amazing to think that just a couple of years ago this was an open space with some mature trees.

Now the site has a range of seating, a fire circle, a large wood shelter, wood store, mud pit, sand pit and an amazing treehouse.

Tina and Tina hosted the afternoon, sharing photos of how they had developed the site and how they ran the Forest School sessions. Children have the opportunity from Reception to Y6 to go to out for Forest School lessons. Groups are organised on a weekly basis for a series of at least 3 afternoons, and then after a rotation get another chance later in the year.

In addition to this it was interesting to see how they integrated the Y6 children into the younger children's sessions to provide additional support and learning opportunities.

Thank you to both Tina's for an interesting and informative afternoon.