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Forest School Quality Improvement Framework Brief History
As many of you will know from FEI updates, this project aimed to help improve quality provision within the Forest School (FS) sector through the 'testing and refinement' of a Quality Assurance (QA) framework at five different Pilot Forest School settings in England, Scotland and Wales.
There are 4 sections to work through
3a) Learning Environment
3b) Health, Safety & Well-being,
3c) Delivery and Communication,
3d) Learners
Each with a checklist (series of questions) to answer and collate evidence for , at your own pace. This process should help you to identify your own needs for CPD eg fire lighting, tool use, observational skills.
The supporting documents will help prompt you to develop skills in
4.2 Collecting evidence
4.3 Interviewing
4.4 Observational skills
Links to Learning Outside the Classroom
Learning Outside the Classroom (LoTC) quality badging process has offered us an opportunity to provide an external assessment specifically for Forest School that we originally were seeking in the development of this quality scheme for Forest School, but have been unable to provide due to lack of resources.
The links between the LOtC indicators and the FS QuIF have been made explicit which should help both assessment processes.
Tony Thomas and Chris Warn of the Field Studies Council, (the awarding body for LOtC quality badging for the Natural Environment sector) have agreed to offer an external assessment against the FS QuIF (in a similar way to that provided by the Peer Reviewers in the pilots) and/or utilise the evidence brought together by this FS QuIF to assess whether to award a LOtC quality badge. The first part of the process is a one day external assessment (exact cost to be decided)
This will provide independent verification of quality provision for Forest School and also enable FS providers to progress to applying for a LOtC quality badge utilising an assessment process which reflects the very nature of FS provision. (to gain the LoTC quality badge , through a Route two assessment process, will be a second day - exact cost to be decided)
ENGLAND UPDATE
FEI Cluster Groups
A discussion was had at the last FEI England meeting about how FEI could help, financially, to support a number of FS providers, using the QuIF to apply for external assessment and/or LOtC quality badging.
Cluster groups will be able to use the small annual grant for cluster groups (£200) to support one Forest School provider through either or both processes, and then ideally, mentor/support others within the cluster. This will be your choice, and where appropriate, should be on the agenda of your next FEI cluster group meeting. Any group that decides to take this forward - please email Susannah.
From my experience, I would also suggest that small groups work on different sections of the framework together. By taking a section one at a time, it is a manageable task and a good structure for sharing good practice within the group. In my opinion, the sections get progressively more detailed so start with section one!
Feedback
Feedback - Email any thoughts/constructive comments on the usefulness of the framework. The framework is likely to be updated on an annual basis.
Workshop
A workshop , primarily, for FEI cluster group members will be run on Thursday 15th October. Subsidised places will be available - details to follow. This will be an opportunity to hear about progress from some practitioners who will have trialled the framework, as well as interactive sessions on one or two quality indicators - these will be decided by attendees beforehand. An early indication of who would be interested in this workshop would be helpful, email Susannah. Forest School Quality Improvement Framework
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Forest Schools
