Background to FEI Forest School

Background to FEI Forest School

Forest Schools originated in Europe in the early 20th century as a way of teaching about the natural world. By the 1980s it became part of the Danish early years programme. 

The Forest School model originates in Scandinavia and involves participants journeying by foot (if possible) to a local woodland environment to learn outdoors on a regular sustained basis. It is a long-term client/child-led, educational process that promotes, observes and explicitly supports the social, emotional and physical development of children, young people and adults in an outdoor, preferably woodland, environment.

In 1993 a group of childcare students visiting Denmark witnessed the benefits of Forest School for themselves and brought the idea back to Bridgwater College. Here, lecturers that accompanied the students considered how they could apply what they had seen to the childcare provision in their own Early Years Excellence Centre. Since then the idea has grown and Forest Schools are spreading throughout Britain. As Forest School delivery is now one of FEI's main activities, a list of criteria that ensures safe practice has been drafted and all Forest Schools, supported by FEI, will aim to achieve these standards, as stated in the section What is an FEI Forest School. Some FEI cluster groups have created their own website - see the local groups section for details of what is supported in your area.


England
FEI cluster groups in England are supporting the development of Forest SChool in over 30 counties/areas. These local networks are working towards funding and supporting Forest SChool with varying client groups. Visit the cluster group page in your area to find your local contact.

The Institute of Outdoor Learning (IOL) have now created a Special Interest group (SIG) for Forest School, which has elected a steering group that meet 3 times a year. For further details and minutes of meetings, please visit the IOL website.

An application for a national Forest School coordinator for England was sent to the Big Lottery Access to Nature fund Stage Onein March 2009. Any updates will be posted on this website.

Wales
FEI has played a lead role in developing Forest School in Wales since 2000. Forest School Leaders in Wales include woodland owners, teachers, craftspeople, early years specialists and youth workers. The resulting Forest Schools are very diverse and use a range of woodland settings to meet the needs of different client groups. Forestry Commission Wales produced a DVD in 2007 celebrating the range of different Forest SChools. For a copy please contact Carol Travers - see contact us section.

Forest School Wales (FSW) is a charity representing Forest School Leaders. FSW can be contacted at info@forestschoolwales.org.uk

Scotland

Forest School is now growing exponentially in Scotland with FEI taking the lead in the development of Forest School. It has become apparent that Forest School is an ideal method of delivering many aspects of A Curriculum for Excellence and also Health outcomes.  There is an increasing awareness and interest in Forest School, from the Scottish Government   (the Education and Forestry ministers are very supportive and have visited FS sites), local education initiatives within Councils, and from individuals who see the benefits of this kind of work with children and young people.

FEI Scotland has a Forest School Sub-group as part of the FEI Steering Group.

There are now over 200 leaders who have completed or are on the way to completing Level 3 training. Delivery is mainly in primary schools but is now beginning to spread from nursery to adult groups. For more information contact the FEI Forest School Scotland co-ordinator forestschoolcoordinator@livingclassrooms.org.uk or your local cluster group.