We love the outdoors here at Yealand Church of England Primary School. God’s beauty is all around us and we take every opportunity we can to take our learning outside.

Did you know we have our own forest? We are so lucky to have been granted permission to set up our own outside classroom in the forest across the road from school. With the help of our wonderful community, our children go on weekly adventures to their own forest.

We are lucky to have two Forest School Practitioners, who plan an amazing outdoor curriculum for all our children which sees them practising tool skills, as well as making connections to the science, maths, geography and English curriculum. Being outside means that our whole bodies get a workout making us physically, emotionally and socially stronger, and also helps us to connect to our spirituality too. Time in the forest is well spent and so important.

We go out in all weathers, so the children can experience the changes in seasons and can learn to be custodians of their environment throughout the year.

Each year, the children swop their forest for the beach. Beach School is an amazing opportunity for our children to learn about the wider community they live in and link with the Morecambe Bay Curriculum too. The children are able transfer their forest school skills to the beach, exploring the dunes and shores habitats, as well as the different plants and animals that live there.

Throughout the year, we have open community forest day sessions, why don’t you pop along to find out more? Call Judith to find out the next date.

Forest School Handbook

KIT LIST

Everyone needs to be appropriately dressed to keep you safe during the session. We operate on the basis that layers can be removed, but not enough layers cannot be changed once at the site. What we wear is affected seasonally

Autumn/Winter

  • Warm base layer – thermal if possible
  • Long sleeved top
  • Jumper/hoodie/fleece – thick a and warm
  • Long trousers/leggings -could have an additional thermal layer under these too in the coldest weather
  • Thick boot socks
  • Waterproof layer – puddlesuit/trousers and a coat. Children with a puddlesuit that is not added may need a coat on top in addition
  • Wellies or walking boots
  • Woolly hat
  • Winter gloves

Spring/Summer:

  • Long sleeved top – must be long sleeved even in warm weather to protect from thorns etc
  • Long trousers/leggings – must be full length even in warm weather to protect from thorns etc and from insects such as ticks.
  • Lightweight waterproof layer – can be a puddlesuit or waterproof trousers and a waterproof coat
  • Wellies or walking boots
  • Sun hat/sunglasses
  • Sun cream applied by parents before leaving school

Every Session

  • Rucksack
  • Snack
  • Drinking water
  • Long hair tied back

  • High vis vest – all children and adults wear these on every school outing

Remember that in school we have donations of second-hand forest school kit, so check before you buy.